Whyte Advises Anthony Joshua Against a Hasty Return to the Ring: 'A Fight with Wilder is Logical'

Dillian Whyte believes that Deontay Wilder would be a suitable opponent for Anthony Joshua's next bout, but thinks Joshua is rushing back into boxing too quickly. 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 against his longtime rival. Whyte stated, 'I'd love to fight him, but no one has approached me about it, and I think AJ is more likely to face Deontay Wilder now. It's a fight that makes sense, and if AJ fights Wilder, I think he'll win by knockout.' Joshua is expected to face Tyson Fury later this year in a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight showdown. However, a potential fight against Wilder could jeopardize those plans, and Whyte thinks Joshua should take more time to recover. 'I'm a risky opponent for him as well, but you have to consider it,' Whyte said. 'The Tyson Fury fight is a big one, and AJ needs to focus on that. He's been through a lot lately, and I think he's returning to the ring too soon. He needs more time to process everything that's happened. Losing loved ones in a car accident is a heavy burden, and AJ needs to take the time to grieve and reflect.' Whyte is still undecided about his next move after suffering a first-round knockout loss to Moses Itauma in August. He acknowledged that his performance in Saudi Arabia was not representative of his true abilities, saying, 'That wasn't the real me. Anyone with a brain can see that. Sometimes things don't go as planned, and you just have to move on.' Despite fighting only three times since 2022, Whyte dismissed the idea of retiring, stating, 'I know who I am, and I know I can still compete at the top level. I just need to learn from my mistakes and make sure they don't happen again.'