Dillian Whyte, the British heavyweight and former title challenger, has officially withdrawn from his much-anticipated fight against fellow Brit Joe Joyce, scheduled for April 5, 2025, at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester. The announcement was made by Queensberry Promotions, who cited a hand injury sustained during training as the reason for Whyte's withdrawal.
Whyte's absence from this fight not only marks another significant setback for the 36-year-old but also impacts the entire fight card, which includes notable bouts like Lawrence Okolie facing Richard Riakporhe and the professional debut of 2024 Olympian Delicious Orie.
Queensberry Promotions released a statement confirming the news, stating, "Due to a hand injury sustained during training camp, Dillian Whyte will no longer be able to compete in his scheduled bout on April 5 against Joe Joyce at Co-Op Live. A replacement opponent is now being finalized for 'The Juggernaut', and an announcement will be made shortly." Reports suggest Jermaine Franklin, who previously faced Whyte, is among the potential candidates to step up to face Joyce.
Whyte, with a professional record of 31 wins and 3 losses, was eager to keep his momentum going after competing abroad due to various challenges over the past few years, including a dramatic fallout from his failed rematch with Anthony Joshua. That highly anticipated bout, which would have taken place at the O2 Arena, was scrapped last August following Whyte testing positive for what was later revealed to be a contaminated substance, leading to his clearance by Texas Boxing Commission.
Since then, Whyte has gradually rebuilt his reputation and career. He returned to the ring for the first time since the Joshua incident, overcoming Christian Hammer by stoppage, followed by another victory against Ebenezer Tetteh, which marked Whyte's last fight at the end of December 2024. This matchup with Joyce was seen as another opportunity for him to step back onto the British boxing scene.
Conversely, Joyce, at age 39, also faces his share of career challenges. Known for his resilience and fighting spirit, he too is seeking to bounce back after enduring significant setbacks, including back-to-back stoppage losses to Zhilei Zhang during 2023. After managing to secure one win against Kash Ali, Joyce was unfortunately defeated by veteran Derek Chisora last July. This consecutive string of results has left Joyce at somewhat of a crossroads within his career, making the scheduled fight against Whyte even more pivotal for his aspirations of reclaiming stature within heavyweight boxing.
Joyce was originally slated to appear on the card for his bout against Patrick Korte, on March 1, which was later canceled, leaving him without recent competitive action. With Whyte's abrupt withdrawal from their fight this April, many hope to see him find another opponent to stay active, especially as he aims to maintain his exposure and relevance among boxing fans.
The fight card at Co-Op Live was already generating buzz, partially due to the long-standing rivalry between Okolie and Riakporhe, who are set to clash as co-main event fighters. The significance of this undercard adds to the overall importance of the event, especially as both Okolie and Riakporhe have proven track records among light-heavyweight and cruiserweight categories, making the upcoming bouts highly anticipated by fans.
Despite the disappointment surrounding Whyte's withdrawal, there’s still excitement surrounding the April 5 card. Fans and analysts alike are curious about who will step up to face Joyce, and whether he can reclaim dominance on the night. One thing is certain: both fighters aim for continued relevance and triumphs to drive them toward elite status within boxing.
Boxing analysts predict this shakeup might be just what Joyce needs to regroup, as he’s demonstrated he will take on any competitor, regardless of the outcome. He’s been quoted as saying, "If there’s one thing British boxing fans know about Joe, it’s he will fight anyone…and thankfully, there are lots of good heavyweights out there."
What remains unclear, though, is how long Dillian Whyte will take to recover. Having faced injuries before, and with his past struggles hanging heavily on his shoulders, boxing fans hope this isn’t another chapter of setbacks for him. And with Joyce now seeking replacement opponents, the fostering of upcoming talent and unforeseen matchups ought to be promised as the boxing community eagerly watches the developments to come.