Dillian Whyte believes Deontay Wilder would be a suitable opponent for Anthony Joshua's next bout, but thinks Joshua is rushing back into the ring 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. Wilder expressed interest in fighting Joshua after his recent win, and Whyte downplayed the possibility of a rematch between him and Joshua. Whyte stated, 'I'd love it, but nobody has mentioned it to me, and I think AJ is looking to fight Deontay Wilder now.
It's a fight that makes sense.' Whyte predicts that if Joshua faces Wilder, he will 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 those plans, and Whyte thinks Joshua should take more time to recover.
Whyte said, 'I'm a risky opponent for him too, but you have to consider his current state of mind.' Whyte, who was stopped by Joshua in their 2015 fight, believes Joshua needs more time to process his recent experiences. 'I think he's getting back in the ring too soon. He needs time to digest and break down what's happening. What he's going through is a significant loss, not a light one.' Whyte is still determining his next steps after suffering a first-round knockout defeat to Moses Itauma in August last year.
He acknowledges that his performance in Saudi Arabia was not representative of his true abilities, saying, '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. 'No, because I know who I am and what I'm capable of.
I know I can still operate at the top level. I just need to be more mindful, learn from my mistakes, and ensure certain things don't happen again.'