Dillian Whyte advises Anthony Joshua against rushing back to the ring, suggesting a bout with Deontay Wilder is the most logical next step

Dillian Whyte believes Anthony Joshua is making a premature return to boxing and thinks a fight against Deontay Wilder would be a sensible choice for his next opponent. Joshua's last fight was in December, and he has since been involved in a tragic 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 old rival. Whyte stated, 'I'd love it, but no one has mentioned it to me, and I don't know about it. AJ is probably looking to fight Deontay Wilder now; it's the fight that makes sense.' He also predicted that if Joshua were to fight Wilder, he would emerge victorious and likely knock Wilder out. Joshua is expected to face Tyson Fury later this year in a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight bout. However, a meeting with Wilder beforehand could jeopardize these plans, leading Whyte to suggest that Joshua should give himself more time to recover. Whyte, who was stopped by Joshua in their 2015 fight, noted, 'I'm a risky opponent for him too, but you have to consider the circumstances. The Tyson Fury fight is a big one; let's see how he fares and assess his mental state.' Whyte also expressed his belief that Joshua is returning to the ring too soon, saying, 'I think he needs more time to process and come to terms with what's happened. Losing loved ones in a car crash is a devastating experience, and it's not something you can easily overcome.' Whyte is still to confirm 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, stating, 'It wasn't me; anyone with a brain can see that.' Whyte has fought only three times since 2022 and dismissed suggestions that he is considering retirement, saying, 'I know who I am, and I know I can still compete at the top level. I just need to be more mindful, learn from my mistakes, and ensure that certain things don't happen again.'