Anthony Joshua recently stated that he does not consider Dillian Whyte to be a rival as they prepare to face each other on August 12, 2023, News About Nigeria reports.
During a press conference, Joshua referred to Whyte as “just another body” while acknowledging the intense atmosphere between them.
Joshua explained his perspective further by saying, “They’ve got a lot of hate for me. A lot of people hate on me. With Dillian, I don’t really look at him as a rival. I just watch myself.”
The heavyweight fighters have been working on arranging their rematch for the past five weeks, and recently Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed that the match will take place in August.
Their history dates back 14 years when Joshua and Whyte had their first encounter in an amateur bout, which Whyte won by decision. They faced each other again in 2015 during the Commonwealth heavyweight title fight, with Whyte securing a knockout victory in the seventh round.
Since then, both boxers have experienced significant successes and setbacks. Joshua, an Olympic gold medalist in 2012, has held three of the four major world titles at the heavyweight level on two separate occasions. Whyte, on the other hand, has achieved victories against notable opponents but suffered a defeat to Tyson Fury in April of the previous year, losing the WBC heavyweight championship.
The upcoming rematch on August 12 will serve as a preparation fight for Joshua, who is set to face Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia in either December or January.
