Whyte Advises Anthony Joshua to Delay His Return to Boxing

Dillian Whyte believes that Deontay Wilder would be a suitable opponent for Anthony Joshua's next fight, but thinks Joshua is rushing back into the ring too quickly after a recent car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the loss of two close friends. Joshua's last bout was in December, when he defeated YouTuber Jake Paul. Following his victory over Derek Chisora, Wilder expressed interest in fighting Joshua, while Whyte downplayed the possibility of a rematch against his old rival. Whyte stated, 'I'd love it, but no one has mentioned it to me, and I don't think it's happening. AJ is probably looking to fight Deontay Wilder now; it's the fight that makes sense.' He also predicted that Joshua would 'sell and knock Wilder out' if they were to fight. Joshua is expected to face Tyson Fury later this year in a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight match. However, a potential meeting with Wilder beforehand could jeopardize these plans, and Whyte thinks Joshua should take more time to recover. 'I think he's getting back in the ring too soon,' Whyte said. 'He needs more 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 things don't go as planned, and you just have to move on.' Despite fighting only three times since 2022, Whyte waved away suggestions of retirement, 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 ensure they don't happen again.'