Whyte Advises Anthony Joshua Against Rushing Back to the Ring, Suggests Wilder as a Suitable Opponent

Dillian Whyte believes that Deontay Wilder would be a logical next opponent for Anthony Joshua, but thinks Joshua is making a mistake by returning to boxing too quickly. 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 win over Derek Chisora, Wilder expressed interest in fighting Joshua, while Whyte downplayed the possibility of a rematch against his old rival. Whyte stated, 'I would love it, but no one's mentioned it to me, and I don't think it's on the cards. AJ is probably looking to fight Deontay Wilder now, which makes sense.' He also predicted that Joshua would defeat Wilder, saying, 'If AJ fights Wilder, he will sell and he will knock Wilder out, I think.' Joshua is expected to face Tyson Fury later this year in a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight showdown. However, a meeting with Wilder before that 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 the circumstances. The Tyson Fury fight is a big one, and AJ should focus on that for now.' Whyte, who was stopped by Joshua in the seventh round of their 2015 fight, thinks Joshua is getting back in the ring too soon after his recent tragedy. 'I personally think he needs more time to process and come to terms with what's happened. Losing close friends in a car crash is a heavy loss, and it's not something you can just bounce back from,' Whyte added. Whyte is still undecided about his next steps after suffering a first-round knockout defeat to Moses Itauma in August last year. He admitted that his performance in Saudi Arabia was not representative of his true abilities, saying, 'One million per cent, it wasn't me. Anyone with a brain can see that.' Whyte has fought just three times since 2022, but dismissed suggestions that he is considering retirement. 'No, no, no, because I know who I am and what I'm capable of. I know I can still compete at the top level, I just need to be more mindful and learn from my mistakes,' he said.