Eddie Hearn ‘pretty confident’ Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte happens next – hints at fight date
Eddie Hearn is “pretty confident” that Anthony Joshua will fight Dillian Whyte next after the latter beat Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night.
Whyte returned to the ring to face the previously unbeaten Franklin at Wembley Arena.
Joshua was at ringside watching on with it made clear pre-fight that the Whyte-Franklin winner would likely face the former two-time world heavyweight champion next.
Speaking post-fight, Hearn suggested that Whyte would have stopped Franklin had they fought for one more round.
"A very good performance from Jermaine Franklin, as we knew. A quality heavyweight and a tough night for Dillian Whyte. Overlooked by people that maybe hadn't heard of him, but we knew," Hearn told Matchroom Boxing.
"Speaking to everybody and Dmitry Salita and people back in Michigan, this kid [Franklin] can really fight. He's been over sparring with Tyson Fury and had some rounds with Daniel Dubois. He's a very good heavyweight. He showed that tonight.
AJ front row 👀 #WhyteFranklin pic.twitter.com/4zrXsMANPJ
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) November 26, 2022
"Franklin boxed really well. He's very smart with a great boxing IQ, and he'll come again. It was a great performance. He wanted to watch Wardley-Gorman, and [Joshua], of course, wanted to watch Whyte against Franklin," said Hearn about Joshua being sat ringside.
"Dillian Whyte got the winner. Whether that's in March or whether that's in June or July, I feel pretty confident that fight will take place. He's ready to go. [Joshua] is licking his lips."