Wednesday 22 July 2015 16:00, UK
Dillian Whyte will begin his pursuit of Anthony Joshua when he fights Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior live on Sky Sports next month.
There is no love lost between Joshua and Whyte, who boasts an amateur victory over British heavyweight boxing's great hope but has been out of the Sky Sports limelight for more than three years.
The pair are on collision course to meet later this year for the British title provided both remain unbeaten in the interim, and Whyte will have the first of two tune-ups for his rival on the undercard of another grudge match - the Hull contest between Luke Campbell and Tommy Coyle on August 1.
Whyte returned from a two-year ban for a positive drug test in November last year and has been inactive since February, partly due to a hand injury.
But if he gets beyond Costa Junior the 27-year-old will be on the bill when Joshua and Gary Cornish meet for the Commonwealth belt on September 12, and a fight with the winner awaits in the autumn.
"It’s great to be boxing back on Sky Sports again after a long absence," said the Brixton fighter, who is 14-0 and on a run of 10 straight knockouts. "It’s the best place to showcase your skills and I’m looking to put in a devastating performance against Costa Junior.
"The British title is a belt that I look forward to fighting for, and beating Anthony Joshua under a year after being back in the ring would be even better."
The immediate priority is Costa Junior, a 34-year-old who boasts 17 wins - 15 by KO - and four defeats from 21 fights, including a sixth-round TKO by Liverpool's David Price in February this year.
The fight is the latest addition to a Campbell-Coyle card also featuring former two-weight world champion Ricky Burns and Brian Rose's rematch with Carson Jones.
Watch the Hull bill live on Sky Sports 1 from 8pm on August 1.
