Dillian Whyte has serious doubts that his heavyweight rival, Anthony Joshua, will be allowed to step in the ring with him in the coming future.

Joshua, a former two-time heavyweight champion, is looking to bounce back after suffering a crushing fifth round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last September at Wembley Stadium in London.

Whyte defeated Joshua in the amateur ranks, but saw himself suffer a stoppage loss when they collided as professionals in 2015.

A rematch was scheduled to take place in August of 2023, but the contest was canceled after Whyte tested positive for a banned substance in a pre-fight drugs test.

Joshua had hoped to fight domestic blockbuster with Tyson Fury, who unexpectedly announced his retirement from the sport last week.

Whyte, 36-years-old, returned with a stoppage of Ebenezer Tetteh last month.

Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua, mentioned Whyte as a potential comeback opponent for the British star.

If that fight is set down on the table, Whyte will jump on the opportunity.

"[Joshua] Sounds perfect for me. They don't need to ask me twice. They talk about me as an option, but they haven't said anything to me, so it's just negotiation tactics from them. But I'm up for the fight and I'm ready to fight again," Whyte told Sky Sports.

"If he wants to fight, then all they've got to do is call me. I'm always up for fighting AJ. No problem for me. However, personally, I think he's finished. I think he made a huge mistake not taking the immediate rematch with Dubois. It was a world title fight, a great payday and the perfect opportunity to avenge his knockout loss. He will forever have to suffer the memes of being face-planted at Wembley by Dubois.

"When I lost to [Alexander] Povetkin, on the way back to my dressing room, I crashed Eddie Hearn's live interview and demanded the immediate rematch. Nothing else mattered until I beat him in the rematch. It's a mindset thing. I want to fight AJ and Tyson again because they both beat me, although it's one-all with AJ.

"Eddie [Hearn] has publicly stated Joshua could fight me next, but whether he will or not I don't know whether he or his people want it, then we wait to see. I would love to retire him."