Former heavyweight title challenger Dillian Whyte has criticised Anthony Joshua for not pursuing an immediate rematch with Daniel Dubois following his devastating knockout loss at Wembley Stadium last September, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
“He made a huge mistake not taking the immediate rematch with Dubois,” Whyte told Sky Sports News.
“It was a world title fight, a great payday and the perfect opportunity. He will forever have to suffer the memes of being face-planted at Wembley by Dubois.”
The 36-year-old Whyte, who lost to Joshua by seventh-round stoppage in their first encounter a decade ago, drew parallels with his own experience after suffering defeat to Alexander Povetkin.
“When I lost to Povetkin, I crashed Eddie Hearn’s live interview and demanded the rematch. Nothing else mattered until I beat him in the rematch. It’s a mindset thing. I want to fight AJ and Tyson again because they both beat me.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn recently revealed that Joshua has seven different options for his next fight, including a potential rematch with Whyte, who was scheduled to face the two-time heavyweight champion in 2023 before the bout was cancelled due to a failed drugs test.
Meanwhile, IBF champion Dubois is set to defend his title against Joseph Parker in Riyadh on February 22, with the winner potentially securing a future bout with Joshua.
Joshua’s career appears to be at a crossroads following Tyson Fury’s shock retirement announcement, which has scuppered hopes of their long-awaited British showdown.
However, Hearn believes Fury’s retirement might be temporary, telling the Daily Mail, “None of us know what Fury will do next, but if we are to see the fight in the summer, he would probably have to come out of retirement in the next three or four weeks.”
The promoter had earlier suggested Fury’s announcement could be a negotiating tactic, telling iFL TV, “If you ever want to come back and get the max, you have to retire first, haven’t you? Someone then has to bring you out of retirement.”
Joshua, who recently visited Nigeria and met with President Bola Tinubu, has remained silent on Fury’s retirement, with Hearn noting his fighter’s characteristically reserved response to the news.
