Whyte advises Joshua to avoid rushing back into the ring, suggests Wilder as a suitable opponent

Dillian Whyte believes that Deontay Wilder would be a sensible 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 between himself and Joshua. Whyte stated, 'I'd love it, but no one has 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'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 bout. However, a potential meeting with Wilder beforehand could jeopardize these plans, and Whyte thinks Joshua needs more time to recover from his recent experiences. Whyte said, 'I think he's getting back in the ring too soon. 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 it's not something you can just bounce back from.' Whyte is still deciding on 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, saying, 'It wasn't me, and anyone with a brain can see that.' Despite having fought only three times since 2022, Whyte has dismissed suggestions that he is considering retirement, stating, 'I know what I'm capable of, and I know I can still compete at the top level.'