Dillian Whyte Advises Anthony Joshua Against Rushing His Boxing Return, Suggests Deontay Wilder as a Suitable Opponent

According to Dillian Whyte, a bout between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder would be a logical choice for Joshua's next fight, but he believes Joshua is making a premature comeback to the sport. Joshua's last match took place in December, where he defeated YouTuber Jake Paul, and was later involved in a fatal car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends. Following his victory over Derek Chisora, Wilder expressed interest in facing Joshua, prompting Whyte to downplay the possibility of a rematch against his old rival. Whyte stated, 'I'd love to have the fight, but no one has approached me about it, and I think AJ is more likely to face Deontay Wilder now, as it's a fight that makes sense.' If Joshua were to fight Wilder, Whyte predicts that Joshua 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. However, a potential meeting with Wilder beforehand could jeopardize these plans, leading Whyte to suggest that Joshua should allow himself more time to recover. Whyte said, 'I'm also a risky opponent for him, but you have to consider the circumstances. The fight against Tyson Fury should take priority, and then we can assess his mental state and mentality.' Whyte, who suffered a first-round knockout defeat to Moses Itauma in August last year, has yet to confirm his next steps. He acknowledged that his performance in Saudi Arabia did not reflect his true abilities, saying, 'It wasn't me, and anyone with common sense can see that.' Despite suggestions that he may be nearing retirement, Whyte waved off such speculation, 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 ensure that certain things don't happen again.'