Whyte pointed to Wilder as the natural opponent after Joshua’s victory in December, describing it as the fight that “makes sense” from a sporting and commercial point of view, while he backed Joshua to win if it happened.
“I’d love to, but nobody’s mentioned it to me, and I don’t know about it. And AJ probably wants to fight Deontay Wilder now. That’s the fight that makes sense,” Whyte told Sky Sports.
“If AJ fights Wilder, he’ll sell, and he’ll knock Wilder out, I think.”
At the same time, Whyte questioned whether Joshua should step into a high-risk fight so soon, especially with a separate clash against Tyson Fury still expected later this year.
“The Tyson Fury fight, run that fight and see what his mind is, see his mentality. They’ve been through a lot lately. I personally think he’s getting back in the ring too soon.”
The concern, Whyte explained, is not about ability, but Joshua’s mental state after the car crash that killed two close friends.
“I think he still needs time to digest and break down what is happening. Because what is happening to him is a great loss.”
“You think, if you’re in a car accident with two random strangers and they die, it’s going to be tough. Imagine your best friends, your family, that’s a tough loss.”
A fight with Wilder is likely to draw huge attention, but it will also test Joshua at a time Whyte believes he may still be dealing with more than just boxing.
