Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte II confirmed eight years on from first fight

The heavyweight rivals shared a blistering rivalry in 2015, culminating in Joshua knocking out Whyte in the seventh round of their wild showdown at the same arena.

The victory not only avenged a defeat the Olympian suffered to Whyte in their amateur days, but propelled him towards world championship glory, winning his first world title in his very next fight against Charles Martin.

Joshua is also deep into talks to fight Deontay Wilder in their long-awaited meeting in Saudi Arabia at the end of the year. Whyte will hope to wreck those plans when they meet in their rematch.

Both Joshua and Whyte suffered defeat on the world title stage in 2022 with the Olympian falling to a second successive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, having lost his world titles to the Ukrainian the previous year.

Whyte was emphatically knocked out by Tyson Fury at Wembley Stadium last April, getting back to winning ways against Jermaine Franklin in November.

Joshua fought the same opponent in April this year, getting the win in what was his first fight under new trainer Derrick James.

‘I’ve been clear that my plan is to be active this year,” said Joshua. ‘August 12 is the date, I’ll be ready to fight. I look forward to dealing with business.’

 ‘I’m looking forward to returning to the London O2 on August 12 and going to war,’ said Whyte. ‘It’s 1-1 so this is the decider.’

 Promoter Eddie Hearn added: ‘I can’t quite believe this fight is happening and there was absolutely no stopping either man.

‘The rivalry runs deep and there is something about these two where they will never back down from each other.

‘At times it may have looked like a game of bluff but now we are set and with everything that’s on the line this is an absolute must win for both.’

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