The promoter of Anthony Joshua 25-3 (22) has confirmed that there are talks underway for him to face fellow former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder 43-2-1 (42) on a twin bill in the Middle East that would be topped by a four-belt unification bout between WBC titleholder Tyson Fury 33-0-1 (24) and WBA, WBO and IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk 20-0 (13).
The 33-year-old Joshua is fresh off his unanimous decision victory over Jermaine Franklin 21-2 (14) earlier this month in his first bout under new trainer Derrick James.
Fury, 34, was in protracted discussions for face 36-year-old southpaw Usyk on April 29, but those talks dissolved when an agreement couldn’t not be reached on the revenue split and rematch clause.
Joshua’s career stalled after back-to-back decision losses to Usyk that saw him seek out a new coach in James after fighting the Ukrainian for a second time with Robert Garcia in his corner for the one fight.
His promoter Eddie Hearn says he would prefer to see Joshua back in the ring in July, but with a big fight planned for December that may not be possible.
“For AJ, one thing’s for sure, his big fight – and it will come in the Middle East – will be in December and that will be Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder,” the Matchroom Boxing boss said to iFL TV. “That’s what we’re planning. I will be going out next week to meet people to discuss AJ’s fight in December.
“Our focus is to get that mega fight in December over the line. There is no official decision as to whether or not AJ would fight in July. Some of that may come around the decision for the completion of that fight in December.
“I would quite like to see him fight [in July]. But fight now, he’s not in camp for a July fight. We’re focusing on getting the December fight over the line – a fight of huge proportion. Then we’ll make a decision on the July fight in the coming weeks.
“I think the people who will be involved in the December fight would not want him to fight in July because, obviously, it’s a fight of such a huge proportion that you just wouldn’t want to take that risk of committing that money with the possibility of defeat, injury or whatever it may be.
“There is definitely conversations that are taking place, just plans where people would like to host Fury against Usyk and AJ against Wilder on the same night. It’s gonna cost a lot of money. And we will have those conversations.
“AJ, as always, will be the one that makes the decision about his schedule. For me, going into a Fury fight, going into a Wilder fight, I would like for him to fight in July. I think he would and I think Derrick would. But we have to have those conversations [regarding] the December fight next week and then we’ll make a decision.”