The exciting domestic heavyweight match-up between British contenders Dillian Whyte (31-3, 21 KO’s) and Joe Joyce (16-3, 15 KO’s) has reportedly been cancelled after the former suffered an injury during training. The fight, which was set to headline at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester on April 5th. In lieu of Whyte’s forced withdrawal, Joyce will be fighting a replacement opponent.
Whyte, 36, has notably gone through a period of obscurity after a failed drug test in the lead-up to a bout against former unified champion Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KO’s) temporarily derailed his career in 2023. Despite proving his innocence under dubious circumstances a year later, Whyte has thus far failed to recapture his contender status after two unheralded fights last year against Christian Hammer and Ebenezer Tetteh.
Queensberry Promotions, the promoter of the upcoming April 5th card, has already indicated a replacement opponent has been found with an announcement due to follow shortly ― possibly even this week.
Potentially, a rematch between Joe Joyce and fellow Brit Derek Chisora (36-13, 23 KO’s) is also a possibility given Joyce lost to the veteran heavyweight during his last match.
The availability of Chisora is still up to debate, however, as the British heavyweight had hinted at retirement following an upset win over Swedish contender Otto Wallin (27-3, 15 KO’s) last month.
Rumors have pinpointed Croatian contender Filip Hrgovic (17-1, 14 KO’s) as a possible replacement for Whyte ― though Queensberry Promotions has yet to confirm him as a substitute opponent for Joyce. The former IBF interim champion last fought Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KO’s) on June 1st in 2024 in a fight where he was stopped and lost his interim title to Dubois. Dubois would later be elevated to IBF world champion.
While it was not revealed by Queensberry whether Joyce’s bout would remain the main event, Hrgovic stepping in as a replacement would be enough to warrant a headlining position on the April 5th card.
However, in a scenario of Whyte’s replacement being a fighter of lesser reputation, the heavyweight (200+ lbs) match between former British cruiserweights (200 lbs) Lawrence Okolie (21-1, 16 KO’s) and Richard Riakporhe (17-1, 13 KO’s) could possibly be elevated to become the card’s main event given their potential as heavyweight contenders, reputation in the sport and heated rivalry.
