Former heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte has criticized Anthony Joshua for not immediately seeking a rematch with Daniel Dubois after his shocking knockout loss at Wembley Stadium last September, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra.
“Skipping the immediate rematch with Dubois was a massive error,” Whyte stated during an interview with Sky Sports News. “It was a chance to fight for a world title, earn a significant payday, and redeem himself. Now, he’s left to endure the endless memes of being knocked out cold at Wembley by Dubois.”
Whyte, now 36, who suffered a seventh-round stoppage loss to Joshua nearly a decade ago, drew comparisons between Joshua’s situation and his own experience following his defeat to Alexander Povetkin.
“When Povetkin beat me, I didn’t waste any time—I crashed Eddie Hearn’s live interview and demanded a rematch immediately. Nothing else mattered until I got that win back. It’s all about your mindset. I still want to face AJ and Tyson again because they’ve both beaten me, and I need to settle those scores,” Whyte explained.
Promoter Eddie Hearn recently shared that Joshua has seven possible opponents for his next fight, including a potential rematch with Whyte. The two were scheduled to clash in 2023, but the bout was canceled following Whyte’s failed drug test.
Meanwhile, IBF champion Daniel Dubois is preparing to defend his title against Joseph Parker on February 22 in Riyadh. The winner of that fight may secure a future showdown with Joshua.
Joshua’s career seems to be at a critical juncture following Tyson Fury’s surprise retirement announcement, which has cast doubt on their long-anticipated British mega-fight.
However, Hearn believes Fury’s retirement may not be permanent. Speaking with the Daily Mail, he said, “No one really knows what Fury’s next move will be, but if the summer fight is to happen, he’d need to come out of retirement within the next few weeks.”
Hearn had previously suggested that Fury’s announcement could be a strategic ploy. In an interview with iFL TV, he commented, “If you want to maximize your return, you retire first and then let someone ‘lure’ you back into the ring.”
Joshua, who recently visited Nigeria and met with President Bola Tinubu, has maintained his characteristic silence on Fury’s retirement. Hearn remarked that his fighter has chosen to keep his thoughts on the matter private for now.
