Anthony Joshua: Eddie Hearn set to announce Dillian Whyte replacement

Anthony Joshua won a golden medal astatine the London 2012 Olympic Games

Anthony Joshua volition combat astatine London's O2 Arena arsenic planned connected Saturday, with promoter Eddie Hearn acceptable to denote Dillian Whyte's replacement imminently.

A "devastated" Whyte, 35, said helium was "completely innocent".

Hearn told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I judge that combat volition beryllium signed and an announcement made connected Monday nighttime oregon archetypal happening successful the morning."

He added: "The implicit program is to person a amusement connected Saturday night. It's a minefield due to the fact that everyone puts their sanction successful the chapeau and the credible ones privation £10m, a backstage pitchy and my near little limb successful the contract."

Joshua, 33, reacted "calmly" to the quality of the cancellation of the combat aft the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) informed promoters Matchroom and boxing authorities of Whyte's trial result.

• Listen: 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce Eddie Hearn exclusive

"With a week to spell earlier 1 of the biggest fights of the twelvemonth I was shocked and dumfounded. AJ sent maine a connection which was unbelievably calm," said Hearn.

"AJ is hopeless to fight. He has looked unbelievable successful camp. I person ne'er seen him successful specified bully shape.

"The program is to get the astir credible hostile and idiosyncratic who tin trial him for Deontay Wilder.

"At this point, with specified abbreviated notice, you request much than 1 sheet spinning due to the fact that radical volition effort to disrupt things oregon outprice themselves. We person the feline who we deliberation is the close guy, and others who are waiting arsenic well."

The combat betwixt Joshua and Whyte, a rematch of their 2015 bout, was announced successful July.

Joshua knocked retired Whyte successful the seventh circular of their heated British rubric combat 8 years ago, which besides took spot astatine the O2, arsenic helium avenged a nonaccomplishment to his rival connected the amateur circuit.

Whyte, who mislaid his lone satellite rubric situation to Tyson Fury successful 2022, bushed Joshua by determination arsenic an amateur successful 2009 to commencement what became a bitter rivalry.

Olympic golden medallist Joshua went connected to go a two-time satellite champion.