David Haye: Anthony Joshua should rematch Dillian Whyte next – not face Tyson Fury

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

David Haye has advised Anthony Joshua to rematch Dillian Whyte next instead of targeting WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

Joshua won a unanimous points win over Jermaine Franklin at Greenwich’s 02 Arena on Saturday night.

Brixton’s Whyte was in the crowd along with Bermondsey’s Haye, who won world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight before hanging up his gloves in 2018.

Joshua, who lost a batch of major belts to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and then came up short in a rematch in August, was one-paced against Franklin.

The Olympic gold medallist holds a knockout win over Whyte in December 2015 – the pair trading leather in an exciting tear up – and there has been talk of that being a summer fight.

Whyte won a majority decision over Franklin in November, his first bout since being stopped by Fury at Wembley Stadium a year ago.

Haye described Joshua’s performance last weekend as “measured”.

“It didn’t look like he went for the knockout in any of the rounds,” Haye, 42, told iFL TV. “He was just happy to win each round clearly.

“I wanted him to really put it on this little guy and pin him up against the ropes. He did it a couple of times – he held him and hit him, had good success – but it felt like he was working on his long-range game.

“He didn’t do anything I haven’t seen him do before. He has got a new coach and maybe he is getting accustomed [to that]. He has had two losses, back to back, so maybe he was pacing himself or it was about getting back in there, getting the win and taking no chances.

“I’d like to see him in with Dillian next, that makes perfect sense. That’s a nice, all-British clash – a London derby. I like that. That is not the performance to go in with Tyson Fury. If he had blitzed him (Franklin) in two or three rounds then yeah. He needs a better performance than that to jump in with Tyson.

“You know if he fights Dillian there are going to be fireworks. That’s a high-profile fight – lots of pressure. That will get everyone’s juices flowing.

“Then the winner of that can look at Fury.”

Whyte, 34, was the first fighter to hurt Joshua when the pair – the viewed as prospects – collided for the British and Commonwealth titles.

He also holds a victory over Joshua in the amateurs.

“He has lost all his aggression and killer instinct,” said Whyte.

 

“This train is coming to its final stop, trust me. If he fight anyone with ambition and is hungry, has that dog in them, then they will beat him.

“He didn’t bother Franklin at all. It was a terrible performance. I’m ready.”

But Joshua feels that a Whyte return does not hold great appeal to the public.

“I can sit here and say names (who he wants),” said Joshua. “Yeah of course (he has interest in fighting Whyte) but I don’t think the fans do. I don’t think they want to see it again.

“I’d fight Dillian again, no problem. He is interested in it, but it is a fan-friendly sport. We’ll see what they say. You know what fights they want to see.”PICTURES: MATCHROOM BOXING