Dillian Whyte still wants Anthony Joshua rematch, announces comeback fight after failed drugs test

Dillian Whyte is still eyeing an eventual rematch with Anthony Joshua, as the controversial heavyweight makes his first steps back into the ring following a failed drugs test last summer.

Whyte was the subject of a pre-fight test which returned "adverse analytical findings", as he geared up to face Joshua in August 2023.

Robert Helenius was Joshua's replacement opponent on just five days' notice, and the Brit subsequently delivered an impressive knockout.

The frustration among fight fans was palpable as an all-British battle at the O2 Arena, full of spite after their previous encounters in both the amateur and pro game, failed to materialise.

'The Bodysnatcher' has now been cleared to return, and will take on Christian Hammer in Ireland on St Patrick's Day, March 17.

It will mark Whyte's first fight since November 2022, when he beat Jermaine Franklin in a points decision. That followed a comprehensive KO loss to Tyson Fury at Wembley Stadium seven months prior, in his only, long-awaited world title shot.

Hammer has not come as close to world honours, but has stepped in the ring with a host of famous faces, including Joe Joyce. He shares common opponents with Whyte, in Fury and Alexander Povetkin.

On his upcoming bout, Whyte told talkSPORT: "It’s a good fight, Christian Hammer is a tough guy and he’s fought a lot of guys. He’s really tough, and also, we know he’s going to press me as well.

"When you compete against someone you know, or a friend, or whatever it adds that little extra needle and extra spite. We ain’t sparred but we trained at the same gym, and I know Christian well. I’ve been out for 16 or 17 months now, so it’s a tough one to come back to."

However, Hammer is merely the first step on the road back for the 35-year-old, who is still eyeing Joshua.

Whyte said: "We have unfinished business. I’ll fight him in 10 years. Even when I’m old and retired I’ll still want to fight him."

In their previous pro fight, the then-unbeaten pair of Joshua and Whyte squared off in 2015, with 'AJ' delivering a thrilling round-seven KO to propel his career towards superstardom.

The overall record is 1-1, though, after Whyte put the younger man on the canvas en route to a points win as amateurs.

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