Anthony Joshua has pledged his support for Dillian Whyte ahead of his world title bout against Tyson Fury, despite stating he still hates his fellow Brit.
Fury puts his WBC heavyweight title on the line against Whyte at Wembley on April 23rd, which is set to be his final hurdle before a heavyweight unification bout.
That could see Fury face-off against Anthony Joshua, if he wins his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk, but AJ has stated he is backing Whyte for the bout.
“It’s a good [quality] defence against Dillian Whyte. Whyte needs to come in look at what Tyson Fury does and reacts to the complete opposite. Maybe work the body and be conditioned to go the distance, but I hope Dillian trains hard and doesn’t underestimate Tyson," he told iFL TV.
“Because it’s his first time fighting for a title, I think he’ll be hungry. This ain’t his 10th time fighting for a title and he can have a little hiccup along the way – this is his first time fighting for a title.
“I’m rooting for Dillian, even though I hate him and I wanna smash him one of these days. Go on Dillian, I’m with you all the way."
Joshua and Whyte have faced-off in the ring before, with AJ emerging triumphant when the pair clashed seven years ago in 2015.
AJ and Fury were set for a unification bout in Saudi Arabia last summer but an American court ruled Fury must honour his rematch with Deontay Wilder.
Fury did his part by defeating the Bronze Bomber in the United States but Joshua lost his three belts in his mandatory defence against Oleksandr Usyk.
That has pushed a unification bout further into the horizon but, if all goes to plan, fans should be given that fight later this year.
