Whyte Advises Anthony Joshua Against Rushing Back to the Ring, Suggests Deontay Wilder as a Suitable Opponent

Dillian Whyte believes that Deontay Wilder would be a sensible next opponent for Anthony Joshua, but thinks Joshua is making a mistake by returning to boxing 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 facing Joshua, while Whyte downplayed the possibility of a rematch against his old rival. Whyte stated, 'I'd love it, but no one's mentioned it to me, and I don't think it's on the cards. AJ is probably looking to fight Deontay Wilder now, which is a fight that makes sense.' He also predicted that Joshua would defeat Wilder, saying, 'If AJ fights Wilder, he'll sell out the venue and likely knock him out.' Joshua is expected to face Tyson Fury later this year in a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight clash. However, a potential meeting with Wilder beforehand could jeopardize these plans, leading Whyte to suggest that Joshua should take more time to recover. Whyte noted, 'I think he's getting back in the ring too soon. He needs time to process and come to terms with what's happened. Losing close friends in a car accident is a heavy loss, and he should take the time to digest it.' Whyte is still undecided about his next steps after suffering a first-round knockout defeat to Moses Itauma in August last year. He acknowledged that his performance was not representative of his true abilities, saying, 'It wasn't me in that fight. Sometimes these things happen, and you just have to move on.' 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, but I need to learn from my mistakes and be more mindful.'