ANTHONY JOSHUA could look to face former sparring partner Agit Kabayel after his rematch with Dillian Whyte collapsed.
AJ and Whyte were in negotiations to fight on August 12 but Eddie Hearn came out to say the deal broke down.
And now the promoter has named European champion Kabayel – who sparred AJ in 2018 – as a potential replacement.
Hearn said on Boxing Social: “Kabayel was the European champion, he’s top 15.
“He’s on a list of four or five that it could be, but we need to close it out this weekend really if he’s going to fight on August 12.”
Kabayel, 30, is unbeaten at 23-0 and fought as recently in March, beating Agron Smakici.
READ MORE IN BOXING
Joshua, 33, returned with a victory in April against Jermiane Franklin, 29, his first under coach Derrick James.
So Hearn wants the pair to have one more bout together before the proposed Saudi Arabia blockbuster with Deontay Wilder, 37, in December.
He claimed Whyte, 35, turned down an offer to fight Joshua in a rematch of the grudge match he lost in 2015.
But the fuming former world title challenger hit back to set the record straight.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
Whyte told SunSport: “They’re talking rubbish. I haven’t turned down the fight.
“All I got, after Eddie talked publicly and often about making me an offer to fight AJ, was a very short email late in the evening on Friday 2 June.
“I absolutely 100 per cent want to fight AJ and called Eddie to discuss the offer but couldn’t get hold of him.
“I messaged him too. I didn’t hear back from him so I sent him an email to confirm I wanted the fight.
“I didn’t turn down the offer or propose a counter-offer. All I did was ask normal questions on his three-line email so-called offer.
“Even before I emailed, Eddie was already saying publicly that his offer was unacceptable. So, why make it in the first place?
“It is out of order to use me to boost AJ’s value in negotiations for the Wilder fight, without any intention to fight me.
“Heavyweight boxing is in an absolute mess at the moment and bulls*** like this doesn’t help.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
