In November of 2024, Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions signed a multi-year deal with DAZN. If he wanted, the longtime promoter could have eased his way into the deal with a low-profile fight.

Instead, he’s putting two notable heavyweights across the ring from one another.

On April 5th, at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester England, former heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte will attempt to knock off Joe Joyce. The news was first reported by Darshan Desai of Uncrowned.

For the 36-year-old Whyte, he nearly reached the top of the heavyweight mountain, only to be shoved off. In December of 2015, a seventh-round stoppage loss at the hands of Anthony Joshua saw Whyte’s undefeated run come to an end. He didn’t mop around and look for excuses, however, as he racked up 11 consecutive wins. Along the way, he took out the likes of Joseph Parker, Lucas Browne, and Derek Chisora, not once but twice.

Whyte did find himself on the wrong end of a knockout loss to Alexander Povetkin but rebounded nicely by immediately stopping him in their rematch. Although he was back on track, Tyson Fury derailed him via sixth-round stoppage in 2022. The big puncher has been trying to revamp his career since losing out on a rematch with Joshua in August of 2023, after Whyte tested positive for a banned substance and the fight was called off.

Whyte’s reclamation project has been on the right path so far. Now, with three consecutive wins, he’ll take on a former contender looking to find his groove.

At one point, Joyce (16-3, 15 KOs) was one of the hottest names in the heavyweight division. His motor and seemingly impenetrable chin, nevertheless, has recently failed him.

Ostensibly one fight away from a world title shot, Joyce was brutally stopped against Zhilei Zhang in back-to-back fights in 2023. He did pick up a lower-level win against Kash Ali but ultimately came up short recently against Derek Chisora immediately after.

Ironically enough, Joyce is scheduled to return in the next few weeks against Patrick Korte on March 1st. That showdown, however, is viewed as a warm-up for his matchup with Whyte. If Joyce’s handlers are erroneous and their man doesn’t grab the victory, it’s unclear if a backup is in place for Whyte (31-3, 21 KOs).

Full details of the card haven’t been revealed to The Ring as yet but several heavyweight contenders are expected to be showcased.