Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Dillian Whyte in DOUBT after rival rejected ‘unacceptable’ offer with new targets eyed
ANTHONY JOSHUA and Dillian Whyte’s rematch faces the KO amid financial restraints.
Promoter Eddie Hearn wanted to renew the British heavyweight rivalry on August 12.
But Hearn is also in the process of finalising a deal for Joshua to fight Deontay Wilder in December in Saudi Arabia.
And he has conceded that coming to terms with Whyte first is becoming increasingly unlikely with backup options already in place.
Hearn told iFL TV on Thursday: “We’ve made an offer, they felt that offer was unacceptable.
“We may be too far out on the money to make that fight. We’re looking at two other opponents for August 12.
“It’s not that it has to be Dillian – that’s the fight AJ wanted.
“But if we’ve got the Deontay Wilder fight done, we can fight someone else from the top 15 on August 12.
“But if we can’t get the Wilder fight done, then we need a much bigger fight on August 12 or we look at Tyson Fury in September.
“I believe we’re gonna get that fight made with Wilder.”
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Hearn previously revealed he had booked the O2 Arena for Joshua, 33, to rematch Whyte, 35, the man he beat in 2015.
But that would bring in far less money than a Wembley Stadium showdown, which was once touted for the rivals.
So Hearn has admitted neither Joshua or Whyte are likely to receive their desired sums, despite both wanting to run it back.
He said: “The issue is the money Dillian wants, the money AJ wants.
“I don’t think we can get to the number Dillian wants for that fight in all honesty.
“I think Dillian wants the fight, I think AJ wants the fight, but we may well run out of time.”