Whyte cautions Anthony Joshua against rushing back to the ring, suggests Wilder as a suitable opponent

According to Dillian Whyte, a bout against Deontay Wilder would be a logical choice for Anthony Joshua's next fight, but he believes Joshua is making a premature comeback to boxing. Joshua's last match 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 him, but no one has approached me about it, and I think AJ is likely to face Deontay Wilder now, which is a fight that makes sense.' If Joshua were to fight Wilder, Whyte predicts he would emerge victorious and possibly knock out Wilder. 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 these plans, and Whyte thinks Joshua should allow himself more time to recover. 'I'm also a risky opponent for him, but you have to consider it,' Whyte said, reflecting on his own loss to Joshua in 2015. 'The Tyson Fury fight should be prioritized, and Joshua's mental state should be assessed after what he's been through.' Whyte believes 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 accident is a significant loss, and it's not something to be taken lightly.' Whyte has yet to confirm 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, stating, 'It wasn't me, and anyone with common sense 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 cautious, learn from my mistakes, and ensure that certain things don't happen again.'