Eddie Hearn offers Dillian Whatte a rematch against Anthony Joshua after the pair continues to feud over social media

DILLIAN WHYTE has officially been offered a rematch with Anthony Joshua, according to Eddie Hearn.

The Body Snatcher has been earmarked as the second opponent of Joshua’s career rebuild, which got underway with a blood-soaked win over Jermaine Franklin in April.

But former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua denied being in talks to rematch his old rival in a summer showdown this past weekend, in which Hearn tabled a lucrative offer to the former WBC title challenger.

The Matchroom Boxing chief told BBC Sport: “The offer was made to Dillian over the weekend.

“We are waiting for his response to that and we’ll talk today.”

Hearn has the O2 Arena provisionally reserved for August 12 for Joshua’s proposed second outing of the year.

And he hopes that will lead to a December dust-up with former WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder.

He said: “Our plan, which we’ve stressed, is for AJ to box on 12 August and in December again against Deontay.”

Joshua and Whyte, 33 and 35 respectively, first locked horns with one another in the amateurs all the way back in 2009.

Whyte came out of their first meeting victorious, although he was knocked out cold in the professional meeting six years later.

The Brixton bruiser has been flattened in two of his last four outings, but Hearn insists the fight is still a massive one.

He said: “Dillian has a lot of value in the rematch.

“This is not an opponent for Joshua, but a big fight between two world-class heavyweights and huge British names.

“The negotiations will be difficult but both AJ and Whyte want the fight.”

In a separate interview with iFL TV, Hearn said: “It’s a big fight. Dillian’s a big name in the division.

“I think those guys away from the massive fights.

“If Dillian doesn’t fight AJ, we have to find him another fight and that’s where it starts to become difficult if it’s not Andy Ruiz or Zhang or those kinds of fights.

“I think it’s I think those world-class heavyweights that are just outside of those elite money fights are in a bit of a tough spot.

“Hopefully, we can deliver a deal for Dillian that he’s pleased with and wants to fight and wants the opportunity.

“But obviously, he’s gonna have his demands as well.