Whyte Advises Joshua Against Rushing Back to the Ring: 'A Fight with Wilder Makes the Most Sense'

According to Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder is the most logical opponent for Anthony Joshua's next bout, but he believes Joshua is making a hasty return to boxing. Joshua's last fight was in December, when he defeated YouTuber Jake Paul, and he was subsequently 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 about it, and I think AJ is more likely to face Deontay Wilder now. It's the fight that makes the most sense.' If Joshua were to fight Wilder, Whyte thinks he would emerge victorious and potentially knock Wilder out. Joshua is expected to face Tyson Fury later this year in a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight showdown. However, a meeting with Wilder beforehand could jeopardize these plans, and Whyte believes Joshua should take more time to recover. Whyte said, 'I'm a risky opponent for him as well, but you have to consider the circumstances. 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, who was stopped by Joshua in the seventh round of their 2015 fight, thinks Joshua is returning to the ring too quickly. 'I think he needs more time to process and come to terms with what's happened. Losing loved ones in a car accident is a heavy burden, and AJ should take the time to digest his emotions,' Whyte added. Whyte has yet to confirm his next move 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, 'That wasn't the real me. Anyone with a brain can see that it wasn't my best performance.' Whyte has fought only three times since 2022, including his loss to Itauma, but he dismissed suggestions that he is considering retirement. 'No, I know who I am and what I'm capable of. I can still compete at the top level; I just need to be more mindful and learn from my mistakes,' he said.