Whyte Cautions Joshua Against Rushing Back to the Ring: 'A Fight with Wilder Makes the Most Sense'

Dillian Whyte believes that Deontay Wilder would be a suitable opponent for Anthony Joshua's next bout, but thinks Joshua is making a hasty return to boxing. Joshua's last fight was in December, and he has since been involved in a fatal car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends. Following his victory over Derek Chisora, Wilder expressed interest in facing Joshua, while Whyte downplayed the possibility of a rematch between him and his old rival. Whyte stated, 'I'd love to fight AJ, but no one has approached me, and I think he's more likely to face Deontay Wilder now. That's the fight that makes sense.' If Joshua were to fight Wilder, Whyte thinks he would emerge victorious, saying, 'AJ will sell out the fight and knock Wilder out, I think.' Joshua is expected to face Tyson Fury later this year in a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight showdown. However, a meeting with Wilder beforehand could jeopardize these plans, and Whyte believes Joshua should take more time to recover. 'I'm a risky opponent for him too, but you have to consider it,' Whyte said. 'The Tyson Fury fight is a big one; let's see how AJ's mind and mentality are after everything he's been through. I think he's returning to the ring too soon. He needs more time to process and come to terms with what's happened. Losing close friends in a car accident is a heavy loss, and it's not something you can just bounce back from.' Whyte is still undecided about his next steps after suffering a first-round knockout defeat to Moses Itauma in August last year. He acknowledged that his performance in Saudi Arabia was not representative of his true abilities, saying, 'One hundred percent, it wasn't me. Anyone with a brain can see that. But it is what it is, and sometimes you just have to move on.' Despite fighting only three times since 2022, including his loss to Itauma, Whyte dismissed suggestions that he is considering retirement. 'No, because I know who I am and what I'm capable of. I know I can still compete at the top level; I just need to be more mindful, learn from my mistakes, and make sure certain things don't happen again.'