Dillian Whyte believes that Deontay Wilder would be a suitable opponent for Anthony Joshua's next bout, but thinks Joshua is making a mistake by returning to boxing too quickly. Joshua's last fight took place 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, prompting Whyte to downplay the possibility of a rematch against his old rival.
Whyte stated, 'I'd love to fight him, but no one has approached me, and I think AJ is more likely to face Deontay Wilder now. It's the fight that makes the most sense.' He added, 'If AJ fights Wilder, he'll likely win by knockout.' Joshua is expected to face Tyson Fury later this year in a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight showdown. However, a potential meeting with Wilder could jeopardize these plans, and Whyte thinks Joshua should take more time to recover.
'I'm also a risky opponent for him, but you have to consider the circumstances,' Whyte said. 'The Tyson Fury fight is a big one, and AJ should focus on that for now. He's been through a lot lately, and I think he's returning to the ring too soon.' Whyte, who suffered a first-round knockout defeat to Moses Itauma in August, admits that his performance was not representative of his true abilities. 'It wasn't me in that fight,' he said.
'Sometimes things don't go as planned, and you just have to move forward.' Despite fighting only three times since 2022, Whyte has dismissed suggestions of 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.'