Dillian Whyte Advises Anthony Joshua Against a Hasty Return to the Ring

According to Dillian Whyte, a match between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder would be a sensible choice for Joshua's next opponent. However, Whyte believes Joshua is rushing back into boxing too quickly after his recent experiences. 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 fighting 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 know about it. AJ is probably looking to fight Deontay Wilder now; it's the fight that makes sense.' If Joshua were to face Wilder, Whyte thinks he would emerge victorious and possibly knock Wilder out. Joshua is expected to face Tyson Fury later this year in a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight showdown. A potential meeting with Wilder beforehand could jeopardize these plans, and Whyte thinks Joshua should take more time to recover. Whyte, who was stopped by Joshua in their 2015 fight, said, 'I'm a risky opponent for him too, but you have to consider the circumstances. The Tyson Fury fight is a significant one; let's see how his mindset is after that.' Whyte believes Joshua needs more time to process his recent experiences, describing his situation as a 'heavy loss.' He emphasized the importance of allowing Joshua to come to terms with his emotions, saying, 'Imagine losing your best friends or family in a car crash; it's a heavy loss.' Whyte is yet to confirm 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 reflective of his true abilities, stating, 'One million per cent, it wasn't me.' Whyte has fought just three times since 2022 and dismissed suggestions that he is considering retirement. He expressed confidence in his abilities, saying, 'I know who I am, and I know I can still operate at the top level. I just need to be more mindful, learn from my mistakes, and ensure certain things don't happen again.'