The British boxing scene is set for a blockbuster showdown as Dillian Whyte and Joe Joyce prepare to headline the April 5th card at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. This fight is the main event of Queensberry Promotions’ first big show under their new deal with DAZN starting from April 1.
Whyte( 31-3, 21 KOs) and Joyce(16-3, 15 KOs) are both looking to bounce after recent defeats. This fight will play an important role in their future in the heavyweight division and will also kick off Queensberry’s journey with DAZN.
Dillian Whyte’s Comeback Journey
The boxing journey of Dillian Whyte’s has been full of ups and downs. The 36 year-old was once near to a world title shot, but faced a brutal knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in 2015, ending his unbeaten record. However, he bounced back with an impressive 11 fight winning streak, defeating the big names like Derek Chisora for two times, Joseph Parker and Oscar Rivas.
His momentum took a hit in 2020, when Alexander Povetkin knocked him out, but Whyte got his revenge in a rematch. Then he faced Tyson Fury for the world title in 2022, but lost again by knockout. His scheduled rematch with Joshua in 2023, was canceled after he failed a doping test. However, in March 2024, Whyte was cleared after proving the test’s result was caused by a contaminated supplement.
Since then, he has secured wins over Christian Hammer and Ebenezer Tetteh. Now he prepares to fight with Joe Joyce, and hopes to prove he is still the top contender in the heavyweight division.
Joe Joyce’s Struggles and Path to Comeback
Joe Joyce is an Olympic silver medalist, who was once considered one of the most durable fighters in the heavyweight division. He proved himself with knockout victories over Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker. This made him a top fighter for a world title. However, a back to back defeat to Zhilei Zhang in 2023 exposed weakness in his defense and chin.
His struggles continued in 2024, when he suffered an unexpected loss to Derek Chisora. At the age of 39, Joyce knows this is last chance to make a comeback. He will first fight with German heavyweight Patrick Korte on March 1, a crucial test before he is ready for the big fight against Whyte in April.
What’s at Stake and Fight Predictions
This fight is more than just a comeback attempt; it’s a turning point for both Whyte and Joyce. The win from here could push the winner back into the world title, while loss may push the defeated fighter towards retirement.
Queenberry Promotion is expected to announce the full undercard soon, with multiple heavyweight fighters likely to take part. The April 5 event is going to be huge for British boxing, featuring a top fighter on the global stage through DAZN.
As the fight gets nearer, all eyes will be on Joyce’s match against Korte on March 1, as its result determines the upcoming exciting heavyweight clash.
