Dillian Whyte Advises Anthony Joshua Against Rushing Back to the Ring

Dillian Whyte believes that Deontay Wilder would be a suitable opponent for Anthony Joshua's next fight, but thinks Joshua is making a mistake by returning to boxing too quickly. Joshua's last bout 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, and Whyte has downplayed the possibility of a rematch between him and his old rival. Whyte stated, 'I'd love it, but nobody has mentioned it to me, and I don't think it's happening. AJ will probably fight Deontay Wilder now; it's the fight that makes sense.' If Joshua were to face Wilder, Whyte thinks he would emerge victorious, saying, 'If AJ fights Wilder, he'll sell out the venue and likely knock him out.' 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 derail those plans, and Whyte believes Joshua needs more time to recover from his recent experiences. 'I think he's getting back in the ring too soon,' Whyte said. 'He needs time to process and come to terms with what's happened. Losing loved ones in a car accident is a heavy loss, and he should take the time to digest it.' Whyte, who suffered a first-round knockout defeat to Moses Itauma in August last year, has yet to confirm his next steps. He acknowledged that his performance in Saudi Arabia was not representative of his true abilities, saying, 'It wasn't me; sometimes these things happen, and you just have to move on.' Despite fighting only three times since 2022, Whyte has dismissed suggestions of retirement, stating, 'I know who I am and what I'm capable of. I can still compete at the top level; I just need to learn from my mistakes and ensure they don't happen again.'