Dillian Whyte believes that Deontay Wilder is the logical next opponent for Anthony Joshua, but thinks the former champion is rushing back into the ring too quickly. Joshua's last fight was in December, followed by a car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the loss of two close friends. Wilder expressed interest in facing Joshua after his recent win, and Whyte downplayed the possibility of a rematch between him and his old rival.
'I'd love to fight him, but no one has approached me about it, and I think AJ is more likely to face Wilder now - it's the fight that makes the most sense,' Whyte told Sky Sports. '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 bout.
However, a meeting with Wilder beforehand could jeopardize those plans, and Whyte thinks Joshua should take more time to recover. 'I'm a risky opponent for him as well, but you have to consider the circumstances,' said Whyte, who was defeated by Joshua in 2015. '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 suffered a first-round knockout defeat to Moses Itauma in August last year and has not yet confirmed his next steps. He admits that his performance in Saudi Arabia was not representative of his true abilities. 'It wasn't me in that fight - anyone can see that,' said Whyte.
'Sometimes things don't go as planned, and you just have to move on.' Despite fighting only three times since 2022, Whyte waved away suggestions that he is considering retirement. 'I know who I am and what I'm capable of - I can still compete at the top level,' he added. 'I just need to be more mindful, learn from my mistakes, and make sure I don't repeat them.'