Whyte advises Anthony Joshua against rushing his comeback: 'Deontay Wilder is the logical choice'

Dillian Whyte believes Anthony Joshua is making a premature return to the ring and suggests that a bout against Deontay Wilder would be the most sensible choice for his next opponent. 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. 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 to fight AJ, but no one has approached me about it, and I think he's more likely to face 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 showdown. However, a potential meeting with Wilder beforehand could jeopardize those plans, and Whyte thinks Joshua should take more time to recover. 'I'm a risky opponent for him as well, but you have to consider the circumstances,' Whyte said. 'The Tyson Fury fight is a big one; let's see how AJ's mind and mentality are after all he's been through recently. I personally think he's returning to the ring too soon.' Whyte reflected on Joshua's recent experiences, saying, 'What he's going through is a tremendous loss, not a light one. Imagine being in a car crash where your best friends or family members die - it's a massive loss.' Whyte is still undecided about 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 the real me, and anyone can see that. Sometimes things don't go as planned, and you just have to move forward.' Despite fighting only three times since 2022, Whyte dismissed suggestions that he is considering retirement, stating, 'I know who I am and what I'm capable of. I can still compete at the top level; I just need to learn from my mistakes and be more mindful.'