Dillian Whyte set to receive contract offer for Anthony Joshua fight as talks resume over all-British bout

Promoter Eddie Hearn claimed earlier this week that the fight, pencilled in for August 12, would not be taking place after Whyte rejected an offer, suggesting the heavyweight had priced himself out.

The bigger priority for Joshua and his team has been confirming a fight against Deontay Wilder at the end of the year in Saudi Arabia, with Hearn revealing that deal could be reached next week.

It still leaves Joshua needing an opponent should he want to return to the ring this summer and get another fight under his belt with trainer Derrick James, following their first bout together in April in the win over Jermaine Franklin.

Whyte has now raised the possibility that he could still fight Joshua, eight years on from when they fought at the 02 Arena, as he confirmed he is training in Florida as though the bout will take place in August.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Whyte claimed that he has been unable to contact Hearn over the past month, believing Joshua’s team do not really want the fight, but confirmed that he is willing to accept the offer that was originally sent to him. Sky Sports report that negotiations have now resumed and Whyte is expected to receive a contract.

“100 per cent, of course I would, I wanna fight AJ and beat him,” Whyte responded when asked if he would accept the deal on the table.

Whyte remains cautious over the prospect of a deal being reached, though warned Joshua not to view him as a warm-up for a mega-fight against Deontay Wilder in December.

“Listen, I’m no warm up fight for no-one, I’ll give anyone hell on the night,” Whyte said.

“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.

“Just that alone makes me a massive danger for him and they don’t wanna risk the Wilder fight.”