Whyte Advises Joshua to Delay His Comeback, 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 rushing back into the ring too quickly. Joshua's last bout 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 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 emerge victorious against 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 these plans, and Whyte thinks Joshua should take more time to recover. Whyte noted, 'I'm a risky opponent for him as well, but you have to consider the circumstances. The Tyson Fury fight is a big one, and AJ needs to assess his mental state and mentality after what he's been through.' Whyte, who suffered a first-round knockout defeat to Moses Itauma in August, has yet to confirm his next steps. 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 dismissed suggestions of retirement, stating, 'I know who I am, and I know I can still compete at the top level. I just need to learn from my mistakes and ensure they don't happen again.'