Deontay Wilder has made a bad mistake in ending his long association with trainer Mark Breland, according to fellow heavyweight Dillian Whyte.

Wilder is no longer working with Breland ahead of a third fight with Tyson Fury, with the American's co-manager Shelly Finkel confirming reports of the split to World Boxing News.

It was Breland - a former world champion - who threw in the towel to halt the second bout against Fury in February, as his fighter came under heavy punishment in the seventh round having already suffered two knockdowns.

However, Wilder was unhappy with the timing of the stoppage as he lost for the first time in his professional career, in the process ending his reign as WBC champion.

Yet Whyte has branded his rival an "idiot" for making such a major change to his team, insisting Breland made the correct call based on his own experiences in the ring.

"I think it's the worst mistake he's ever made, because Mark Breland is the only person in his team that actually was a boxer and actually was a world champion," Whyte told Sky Sports. "He was the only person that didn't care about money or fame.

"Someone who was actually from an emotional point [of view], someone who understands, thinking about his health and did the right thing by throwing the towel in, because he could have got seriously hurt.

"He was getting hit with punches that weren't knocking him out, they were concussing him. Mark Breland knows what it's like, because Mark Breland has been in the same position Wilder was in. He's someone that cares about the athlete and the boxing side of things."

He added: "Deontay Wilder is an idiot, he clearly can't see it. Good luck to him, it's his team, he can do whatever he wants.

"But I think it's a bad mistake. Mark Breland is the only one that knows boxing in his team."

Wilder has a rematch clause to face Fury again, though a date and venue for their third clash is yet to be confirmed amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Whyte was next in line for a shot at the WBC champion until suffering a shock loss to Alexander Povetkin in September. The pair are booked for a rematch on November 21.