Dillian Whyte has withdrawn from his scheduled heavyweight clash with Joe Joyce on 5 April due to a hand injury, Queensberry Promotions have confirmed.
The British heavyweights were set to headline a major card at Manchester’s Co-op Live.
“Due to a hand injury sustained during training camp, Dillian Whyte is no longer able to compete in his scheduled bout,” Queensberry said in a statement.
Reports indicate Whyte suffered a severe injury to his finger during training.
Dillian Whyte has pulled out of his upcoming fight against Joe Joyce
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The Sun described it as an “inflamed finger” that has forced ‘The Body Snatcher’ to pull out just weeks before the scheduled bout.
This setback will delay the 36-year-old’s return to top-tier boxing in the UK, where he hasn’t fought since his majority decision win over Jermaine Franklin in November 2022.
Joyce will remain on the card as the headliner for the heavyweight fight night, with Queensberry Promotions confirming a replacement opponent will be announced shortly.
The 39-year-old Olympic silver medallist had been preparing intensively for the all-British showdown.
Promoters are now scrambling to secure a last-minute replacement, with Joyce reportedly unwilling to face lower-level opposition.
The event at Co-op Live will still go ahead as planned on 5 April.
Joyce is facing a crossroads in his career after suffering three defeats in his last four fights.
He lost back-to-back bouts against Zhilei Zhang in 2023 before a points defeat to Derek Chisora last July.
Whyte, meanwhile, has fought twice abroad since his UK absence began, most recently defeating Ebenezer Tetteh in Gibraltar in December.
Promoters are mow scrambling to find replacements to fight Joe Joyce
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He was scheduled to fight Anthony Joshua in 2023, but the bout was cancelled after an adverse finding in a drug test.
The April 5 card features other significant bouts, including a blockbuster clash between Lawrence Okolie and Richard Riakporhe.
The event will also showcase the professional debut of Delicious Orie.
This heavyweight fight night was set to mark Whyte’s first appearance with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.
Dillian Whyte last fought in December 2024 against Ebenezer Tetteh (not pictured)
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“We’ve had a couple of lunches, I’ve met him and his family,” Whyte told ESPN last month about repairing his relationship with Warren.
A source told The Sun: “It’s gutting for Joe. He has trained – as usual – incredibly hard for this and Dillian was an ideal opponent.”
“If there is one thing British fans know about Joe, it’s that he will fight anyone and, thankfully, there are lots of good heavyweights out there.
“Joe has no interest in dropping below level, so Filip Hrgovic, Jarrell Miller, the rematch, Joe will take on anyone.”