Dillian Whyte's hopes of making a strong comeback have been dashed after he was compelled to withdraw from his highly anticipated heavyweight fight against Joe Joyce. The bout, scheduled for April 5, 2025, at Manchester's Co-op Live, was meant to mark large stakes for both fighters as they sought to reassert their dominance within the British heavyweight boxing scene.
Queensberry Promotions confirmed on Tuesday the Jamaican-British fighter's withdrawal, stating,
"Due to a hand injury sustained during training camp, Dillian Whyte will no longer be able to compete in his scheduled bout on 5th April against Joe Joyce." This injury came as another brutal blow to the veteran, who has only fought twice since the start of 2023, indicating the troubles surrounding his bid for reestablishing himself as a leading contender.
Despite Whyte's absence, Joyce is still likely to headline the event, which is part of Queensberry's groundbreaking deal with DAZN to showcase top-level boxing talent across their platforms.
Whyte, now 36, first made headlines about ten years ago with his explosive bout against Anthony Joshua at London’s O2 Arena. That fight initiated his rise within the heavyweight division, even though he lost to Joshua. Since then, Whyte has added several notable victories to his record, including wins against Dave Allen, Derek Chisora (twice), and Joseph Parker.
One significant moment of his career came during the early days of August 2020, when he suffered a shocking knockout loss to Alexander Povetkin. Nonetheless, Whyte managed to rebound by avenging this loss with a victory over Povetkin seven months later.
The height of his career appeared to arrive in April 2022 when he challenged WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury at Wembley Stadium. Unfortunately for Whyte, it was not the triumphant affair he had hoped for; he found himself knocked out after just six rounds, effectively marking his return to prominence as fruitless.
Following the loss, he secured what many viewed as merely underwhelming victories. An unconvincing majority decision win over Jermaine Franklin eight months later was particularly disappointing; soon after, he faced greater setbacks when he failed a drugs test before another proposed fight against Joshua, pushing him even more to the periphery of media attention.
His two matchups against Christian Hammer and Ebenezer Tetteh at the end of 2024 marked his first attempts to wrestle back some respect and stake his claim for relevance once again. Although he managed to win both fights, critics noted he lacked the killer instinct necessary to finish his opponents decisively. His recent victory over Tetteh dragged on unnecessarily, stretching to seven rounds.
Meanwhile, Joyce is now expected to fight another opponent come April 5, bearing the mantle of headliner for the evening. Joyce, initially set to confront Patrick Korte on March 1, also found himself injured and forced to withdraw from the fight.
With the heavyweight division experiencing remarkable changes and being populated with both young talents and seasoned boxers, the urgency is palpable for Whyte. Many up-and-coming stars, such as Daniel Dubois and Moses Itauma, along with contenders like Fabio Wardley and Delicious Orie, challenge the legacy of fighters like Whyte.
Whyte's withdrawal could hasten his fade from the heavyweight picture, not only hindering his path back to fighting genuine contenders but also potentially leaving him absent from the spotlight shared by fighters pursuing gold titles. It is clear the heavyweight boxing scene is not only thriving but also full of ambitious fighters who have emerged following the evolution of recent years.
While heavyweights dominate boxing, it remains to be seen whether Whyte can secure another chance to confront these rising stars, particularly as he approaches the later years of his boxing career. With age and injuries increasing, it casts doubt on his ability to stay competitive and relevant.
Every moment counts. By the time he recovers, the boxing world may have significantly shifted without him. The new faces have begun stepping up, moving the spotlight away from veterans like Whyte.
DAZN continues to offer astonishing opportunities within the sport, boasting covered fights among the world's best promoters and extensive viewing coverage for fans. A DAZN subscription ensures access to over 180 fights annual, with offerings ranging from boxing to PFL, providing fans with comprehensive support for combat sports.
The heavyweight boxing scene may well become even louder with Joyce continuing on his path, but for Whyte, this injury is a reminder of the precious and dwindling time left for proving his status among the top-tier fighters.
For now, the boxing world watches to see how Joyce will perform without his scheduled rival, and whether Dillian Whyte will regroup and get back on track before it’s too late.