Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua 24-2 (22) could get the opportunity to avenge his loss to former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk 19-0 (13) as early as March next year.
The 32-year-old Brit was comprehensively outboxed by Ukrainian southpaw Usyk, 34, in England last month, losing by scores of 112-117, 113-115 and 112-116.
Joshua enacted the immediate rematch clause in his contract and his promoter Eddie Hearn says plans are well underway for the return bout.
“I think March is realistic, yeah March, around March,” the Matchroom Boxing boss told iFL TV. “It’s a huge fight and there will be a lot of people wanting to stage it, but I would like to do it back in the UK.”
It will be the second time in his career that Joshua has headed into an immediate rematch with a six-month turnaround.
In June 2019 he lost his WBA, WBO and IBF titles to Andy Ruiz Jr 34-2 (22) when he was stopped in seven rounds at Madison Square Garden in New York.
In December of the same year Joshua pitched a virtual shutout against Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia.
Hearn says that Usyk is more than happy to face Joshua again after his impressive performance in their first bout.
“Team Usyk is very happy to take the rematch,” he said. “They’re going to make a huge amount of money and they believe they’re going to win the fight. For AJ, there is no other fight. He’s seen comments from people.
“‘Step aside this, step aside that. Absolutely not in a million years. He’s fit and while he’s fit, strong and focused as he is, there’s only one fight that he has his mind on.”
It has been widely rumoured that Joshua is searching for a new trainer after he was spotted at several high profile gyms in the United States in recent weeks.
But Hearn insist this is nit the case.
“He hasn’t split from Rob McCracken, he hasn’t decided that he’s going to join another trainer,” Hearn said.
“I think he’s just trying to learn, he’s trying to look at his setup, trying to look at ways to improve and he’s working.
“He’s out there, putting the work in now every day getting ready for the rematch. He knows he must win this fight. It’s just a case of taking in information.
“That wasn’t the reason for the trip. It wasn’t, ‘I’m going to America to find a new trainer.’ It was just, ‘I want some time away.’ He chilled out a little bit. He went to a couple of gyms.
“It wasn’t to go meet different trainers. It had more to do with the setup of where he trains as well. Does he need a new environment to train? Does he need a new energy, I suppose. He’s making sure he’s in the position to win this fight and he’ll leave no stone unturned.”
