Dillian Whyte predicts Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could both retire after blockbuster showdown

Dillian Whyte believes the long-awaited heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could mark the end of an era, with both British boxing icons potentially walking away from the sport after finally facing each other later this year.

The two former world champions are expected to meet in November after successfully coming through their comeback fights, although questions remain over whether either fighter still has enough left to extend their careers beyond the biggest all-British heavyweight bout in history.

Heavyweight rivals finally set to collide

After years of failed negotiations and cancelled agreements, Fury and Joshua appear closer than ever to sharing the ring.

Fury returned to action with a seventh-round stoppage victory over veteran Mariusz Wach in Thailand, while Joshua survived an early scare against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia, recovering from two first-round knockdowns to secure a dramatic second-round knockout.

The performances, however, have only intensified debate over whether both men are now entering the final chapter of their careers.

Whyte: Both could walk away

Speaking ahead of the proposed showdown, former world title challenger Dillian Whyte suggested the fight could represent the perfect ending for both heavyweights.

Whyte believes Fury and Joshua have already achieved everything they set out to accomplish, making retirement a realistic possibility regardless of the result.

According to the veteran heavyweight, the winner would have little left to prove, while the loser may also decide that the time has come to step away from elite competition.

He admitted that seeing both retire would be a sad moment for boxing but believes it is becoming increasingly likely.

Whyte gives slight edge to Fury

Having shared the ring with both fighters during his career, Whyte expects an extremely difficult contest to predict.

He believes Fury still possesses the technical advantages to win on points, but insists Joshua's punching power means the former unified champion remains capable of ending the fight with a knockout.

While boxing purists may favour Fury's movement and ring IQ, Whyte says Joshua's explosiveness ensures the fight remains genuinely unpredictable.

Joshua returned too soon

Whyte also questioned whether Joshua was mentally prepared for his comeback following the devastating car accident last December that claimed the lives of two close friends.

Although Joshua eventually stopped Prenga, Whyte believes the difficult opening round exposed more of a psychological struggle than any physical decline.

He argued that Prenga's aggressive start caught Joshua mentally off guard and suggested the former champion may simply have returned before fully recovering emotionally from the traumatic events of the past several months.

No friendship, just honest assessment

Despite their long-standing rivalry, Whyte insisted his comments were based on honest observation rather than personal feelings.

The pair have shared a fierce rivalry stretching back more than a decade, but Whyte acknowledged that Joshua has endured significant personal hardship and believes that played a major role in his difficult start against Prenga.

Rather than blaming Joshua's chin, Whyte pointed to nerves, confidence and mental readiness as the bigger concerns.

Whyte plotting his own comeback

The 38-year-old is also preparing for another run in the heavyweight division following his defeat to rising star Moses Itauma last summer.

Whyte says he wants one comeback fight to shake off ring rust before pursuing major names from his generation.

Among the opponents he hopes to face are Derek Chisora, Andy Ruiz Jr. and Jarrell Miller—fighters he believes would deliver exciting contests as he attempts one final push toward the top of the heavyweight rankings.

For now, however, the boxing world remains focused on Fury versus Joshua—a fight years in the making that could ultimately become the final chapter for two of Britain's greatest heavyweight champions.