A replacement opponent for Anthony Joshua is expected to be announced today.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champion was set to meet perennial contender Dillian Whyte in the ring at the O2 Arena in London, England on Saturday night.
But Whyte was axed from the fight after failing a drug test administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) that put the whole card in jeopardy.
It was the third time in his career that the 35-year-old Whyte has failed a test for performance enhancing drugs.
Ever since news broke over the weekend of Whyte’s withdrawal rumours have been swirling about who could replace him. Potential names include Filip Hrgovic, Demsey McKean, Derek Chisora and Gerald Washington — all of whom are slated to box on the undercard — along with Scandinavian boxers Otto Wallin and Robert Helenius.
Joshua, 33, has been placed in this scenario before. In June 2019 he faced late replacement Andy Ruiz Jr in defence of his WBA, WBO and IBF world titles at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden after Jarrell Miller was forced to withdraw following his dirty drug test.
Joshua lost by seventh-round knockout.
Even though Joshua got his revenge on Ruiz six months later and regained the belts, it is not the sort of slip up his team will want to repeat, particularly with a big money fight against Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia loosely planned for December.
That is what makes promoter Eddie Hearn’s job that much more difficult.
“I believe that fight will be signed and an announcement made on Monday night or first thing in the morning,” Hearn told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“The absolute plan is to have a show on Saturday night. It’s a minefield because everyone puts their name in the hat and the credible ones want £10m, a private jet and my left lower limb in the contract.”
Whyte has protested his innocence and vowed to clear his name, but that does little to help Joshua who now needs to regroup mentally for a mystery opponent who could well present a different style and look in the ring.
“With a week to go before one of the biggest fights of the year I was shocked and dumfounded. AJ sent me a message which was unbelievably calm,” Matchroom Boxing boss Hearn said.
“AJ is desperate to fight. He has looked unbelievable in camp. I have never seen him in such good shape.
“The plan is to get the most credible opponent and someone who can test him for Deontay Wilder.
“At this point, with such short notice, you need more than one plate spinning because people will try to disrupt things or outprice themselves. We have the guy who we think is the right guy and others who are waiting as well.”
