Dillian Whyte vs Joe Joyce has been confirmed as part of a blockbuster heavyweight card staged by Frank Warren.

Whyte and Joyce are two of the most recognisable operators in the British heavyweight boxing scene, and are both keen to get their names back in the world title mix.

Whyte and Joyce will meet in a blockbuster clash at heavyweight in ManchesterCredit: Getty

The all-action rivals will now meet in a huge showdown at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on April 5, as part of a blockbuster bill put together by Queensberry Promotions.

It will feature a heavyweight showdown between Richard Riakporhe and Lawrence Okolie, who will be looking to make a big splash in the blue-riband division after switching weight.

David Adeleye will be looking to continue his return to form as he takes on Jeamie TKV as the pair look to push towards a shot again at the British title.

And recent Team GB Olympic heavyweight Delicious Orie will make his first appearance under the Queensberry Banner.

Orie has been compared to former two-time world champion Joshua, whom came through the Olympic ranks to turn over as a talented professional.

The pair have the exact same 6ft 6ins frame, and are both of Nigerian descent, so natural comparisons have been made between the pair.

Warren announced the card as part of a bumper boxing schedule after making the switch to team up with DAZN.

It will also feature fan-favourite Leigh Wood back in action in a huge domestic dust-up on May 10.

Josh Taylor will also take on Ekow Essuman later that month in a Glasgow homecoming clash.

The promoter said: “We’ve assembled a bumper lineup of cracking fights to celebrate the start of our relationship with DAZN.

Orie will make his debut as a professional on the same nightCredit: Getty

“We are starting as we mean to go on and, as you might expect, the heavyweights will play a big, big part in 2025 and beyond.

“Then Nottingham is the place to be the following month for a real banger of a fight between Anto Cacace and Leigh Wood.

“It is the sort of domestic blockbuster we will be seeing plenty of across the partnership between Queensberry and DAZN. “I am also so much looking forward to returning to Scotland with the nation’s biggest star and our latest signing, Josh Taylor, headlining and rebooting his career at welterweight.

“I believe he can again do big things, but he will be up against it with Ekow Essuman in the opposite corner.”

Whyte has had a difficult period since losing to Tyson Fury in 2022, having fought just three times since with wins over Jermaine Franklin and Christian Hammer.

Okolie will also make his second heavyweight bowCredit: Getty

His most recent fight came against Ebenezer Tetteh when he fought to a hard-earned win in December, and he is hoping to continue his revived charge through the ranks.

It is a tough period for his rival Joyce, whom is facing a crossroads in his career.

He will need victory to revive his reputation, having been beaten by Derek Chisora last July.

Should he lose, it will almost certainly spell an end to his career, given he has already faced calls to retire at the age of 39.

As for Okolie and Riakporhe, the stakes couldn’t be higher with the pair keen to get their heavyweight beginnings off to a positive start.

The pair have a history of needle having had a war of words in the past, and they will be looking to derail their ambitious respective journeys at a new weight.