Whyte Advises Anthony Joshua Against a Hasty Return to Boxing: 'A Fight with Wilder Is Logical'

Dillian Whyte believes that Deontay Wilder would be a suitable opponent for Anthony Joshua's next fight, 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 fighting Joshua, while Whyte downplayed the possibility of a rematch against his old rival. Whyte stated, 'I'd love to fight him, but no one has approached me about it, and I think AJ is more likely to face Deontay Wilder now - it's the fight that makes 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 matchup. However, a potential fight against Wilder beforehand could jeopardize those 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.' He also mentioned, 'The Tyson Fury fight is a big one, and AJ should focus on that for now and assess his mental state after everything he's been through.' Whyte personally believes Joshua is returning to the ring too soon, saying, 'He needs more time to process and come to terms with what's happened. Losing close friends in a car accident is a heavy loss, and it's not something you can easily bounce back from.' Whyte is still unsure about 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 representative of his true abilities, saying, 'It wasn't me, and anyone can see that.' Whyte has only fought three times since 2022 and dismissed suggestions that he is considering 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.'