ANTHONY JOSHUA has told Dillian Whyte he is prepared to make the next defence of his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles in a rematch against him โ€”ย if Deontay Wilder cannot be tempted to abandon plans to again fight Tyson Fury.

Whyte produced a devastating stoppage of Dereck Chisora in the 11th round at Londonโ€™s 02 Arena to further his claims to again fight his rival at Wembley Stadium on April 13, even with Joshua considering abandoning that date to instead fight in America for the first time.

Joshua has repeatedly spoken of his desire to fight the undefeated WBC champion Wilder for all four world titles, but with the American expected to fight Fury in a rematch in Las Vegas in April, he will likely require an alternative opponent and he insisted Whyte would then be the leading candidate.

A Joshua-Whyte rematch had appeared an inevitability until the fallout from Wilder-Fury threatened Joshuaโ€™s reputation and has potentially changed their plans.

Americaโ€™s Jarrell Miller would be the favourite if he fought in the US.

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Dillian Whyte celebrates his win against Dereck Chisora (Steven Paston/PA)

The 30-year-old Whyte called Joshua out once Chisora had recovered from his chilling knockout, but Joshua, 29, said: โ€œIf Deontay Wilder is serious and he is going to fight Tyson Fury and doesnโ€™t want to become undisputed champion, Dillian you will get a shot.

โ€œDillianโ€™s an idiot, because I showed him some respect. I knocked him clean out when we fought (in 2015), but I said letโ€™s forget that because we have both improved so letโ€™s prove who is the better fighter now.

โ€œHe starts piping up, I said โ€˜All right, coolโ€™. Iโ€™m quite respectful but if Dillian steps in the ring with me you better believe me, none of these heavyweights are on my level, and I keep my lid on because I donโ€™t want to explode on none of them.


โ€œIf Dillianโ€™s serious, he can come get this work as well, but when the crowd want to see the fight with Dillian, I donโ€™t want to hear no talk when I whoop him, โ€˜Oh he has had an easy touch, you should have fought Wilderโ€™. Any of them are free to step in that ring with me.

โ€œEveryone knows I need to fight Deontay Wilder, Iโ€™m ready. Iโ€™m proud of what Dillian has done. If itโ€™s not Wilder, itโ€™s Whyte over Miller.โ€

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Anthony Joshua after the fight at the O2 Arena (Steven Paston/PA)

It was in response to Whyte insisting: โ€œI deserve my shot, Iโ€™ve worked my way upโ€, that Joshua labelled him an โ€œidiotโ€, and the two fightersโ€™ promoter Eddie Hearn said it was a case of โ€œwhen not ifโ€ their rematch is made.

Revisiting his victory over Chisora, Whyte said: โ€œI hurt him in the first round and thought โ€˜Hey, relaxโ€™. I knew it would come.

โ€œI threw a lazy right hand and dipped a bit, (then) boom! That shot is going to put a lot of people away.

โ€œLetโ€™s go (Anthony), letโ€™s go!โ€

Hearn explained: โ€œItโ€™s a matter of when, not if, because I think Dillian Whyte is going to become the WBO mandatory.

โ€œChisora and Whyte did themselves proud. It goes down as another classic.

โ€œIf Deontay Wilder doesnโ€™t want to fight Anthony, then I think it should be Dillian Whyte.โ€