ANTHONY JOSHUA and Dillian Whyte’s bitter trilogy clash has finally been confirmed for August 12.
The all-London rubber match should have happened in April after Brixton brawler Whyte beat Jermaine Franklin.
TIMES NEWSPAPERS LTDAnthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte will renew their rivalry later this summer[/caption]
The pair have fought twice before, once in the amateurs and once in the pro ranksGETTY
AJ came out of the professional domestic dust-up victoriousNEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD
But, in a surprise move that left the Body Snatcher raging, 33-year-old AJ cautiously outpointed the unknown American instead.
After a couple of weeks of tense negotiations, 35-year-old Whyte has accepted what he feels is a poor deal, just for the chance to fight his oldest foe.
The football stadium sell-out shared promoter Eddie Hearn has always promised has been swapped for an O2 clash in the middle of the school summer holidays.
And that cut in earning potential has added fuel to Whyte’s fury over being overlooked in the Spring.
Whyte won their 2009 amateur showdown that happened above a North London pub.
But AJ got revenge with a 2015 pro barnstormer for the British heavyweight title.
Both reformed bad boys are now millionaires enjoying the backend of their fight careers but both sound desperate to roll back the years and roll around the floor fighting.
“I’ve been clear that my plan is to be active this year,” said Joshua. “August 12 is the date, I’ll be ready to fight. I look forward to dealing with business.”
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“I’m looking forward to returning to the London O2 on August 12 and going to war,” said Whyte. “It’s 1-1 so this is the decider!”
Whyte – who knows Joshua has a mega-money December clash with Deontay Wilder waiting in Saudi Arabia – is desperate to spoil the party.
The Jamaica-born brawler got a rematch clause ripped out of the original contract, in the hope he can stun the London 2012 legend and take his place in the Middle East.
He said from his Florida training camp: “
Team Joshua will be hoping AJ will be able to showcase his work with new coach Derrick James and blow Whyte out of the water.
But former WBC heavyweight title challenger Whyte is adamant he won’t be cannon fodder for AJ to get his mojo back before a Saudi showdown with Wilder.
He told talkSPORT late last month: “Listen, I’m no warm-up fight for no-one.
“I’ll give anyone hell on the night.
“One advantage I have over anyone fighting AJ is I’m able to get in his head mentally.
“I’m able to offset him and I’m able to drag him into a scrap because we have that energy and we have that history.
THE TIMESAnthony Joshua got back to winning ways with a scrappy win over Jermaine Franklin in April[/caption]
GETTYDillian Whyte scraped past the American in a razor close fight last November[/caption]
“Just that alone makes me a massive danger for him and they don’t wanna risk the Wilder fight.”
Joshua knows his domestic dust-up with Whyte could be a potential banana skin on his road to becoming a three-time heavyweight champ.
The Watford warrior said: “What am I doing this fight for?
“I want to become three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
“I want to test myself.
“I’ve been through a lot and I want to see what I have left to give.
When I say what I have left to give, I am not resting on what I have, I am building on what I have and I want to see how far I can take myself.
“I know what it takes, I know what this game is about and I’m going to push myself beyond the limits where I’ve been before.
“Hence why I find myself in Dallas because I’m trying to find an environment that can stimulate me, motivate me and push me onto higher highs.”