Former world heavyweight champion David Haye has warned Anthony Joshua against fighting Tyson Fury next, instead recommending a rematch with Dillian Whyte.
Haye was ringside for Joshua's win over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London, but feels that he wasn't troubled enough by the American in a decisive points victory. Fans were disappointed not to see a statement knockout from Joshua, as was the man himself, and his fellow Brit reckons a meeting with Whyte would help to answer more questions.
Joshua has called for a meeting with long-time rival Fury this summer, with promoter Eddie Hearn keen to make the bout after multiple deals fell apart between the two in recent years. But Hate isn't so sure that it's the right move at the moment, insisting that Whyte is the better choice.
"Isn't Tyson Fury fighting someone else?" Haye responded when asked by Mirror Fighting if it's too early for Joshua under his new coaching regime to face Fury. "I'd prefer off the strength of that last victory that was very comfortable to see him in an uncomfortable fight first because one thing you can guarantee in against [Deontay] Wilder, Tyson Fury it's uncomfortable.
"It's an uncomfortable fight that he's going to have to have to be victorious. When's the last time he was uncomfortable? Against Usyk and he lost. He wasn't uncomfortable against Franklin, it was a comfortable victory. Dillian [Whyte] I believe would make him uncomfortable.
"And it's how he deals in the discomfort zone that will determine how he will deal with the likes of Fury, Wilder or Usyk again. He's going to understand that 'I'm going to be uncomfortable dealing with these guys but I'm going to have to deal with it.
"I'd like to see before he starts fighting the top players go in there with Dillian Whyte who is a top player himself. He's had a victory, lots of spice because they're both from the UK. Controversial first fight, Dillian had one arm in the first fight so I'm looking forward to that showdown."
Joshua's win over Franklin was as frustrating as it was comfortable, with the Brit winning almost every round against a game opponent who was keen to shut down his biggest shots. But Haye feels that he needs one more step up since confirming his new training team, with Whyte the best name.
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"I thought he won conclusively, I think he ticked all the boxes in terms of coming back from a back to back defeats," Haye continued. "I think that a fight with Dillian Whyte is the obvious next step for him, I like Anthony, always have done, want him to be the best version of himself and I want to see the killer come back.
"I want to see the Anthony Joshua that fought Dillian Whyte at the O2 Arena all those years ago - I want that AJ back. I want the one who can let his hands go, who really doesn't mind getting hit but will make sure that he hits you twice as hard, that's the Anthony Joshua that I want to see back. I think that Dillian will either beat him, or bring the best out of him.
"That's what we need, fights that force him [out of his shell]. Franklin didn't have the fire power, didn't have the size or the ability to really put him under pressure. He caught him with a couple of shots here and there but you need more than one or two shots against AJ you really need to put it on him and Dillian can, he's done it in the past.
"It's a great fight and a great opportunity now with both of them coming off wins against the same person, who can take it to that next level? I'm really excited for that fight and the obvious fight after that is obviously fighting for the titles [against the likes of Fury]."
