Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed his vision for the final part of Anthony Joshua’s professional career.
Joshua is a two-time heavyweight champion but currently holds no titles after being dethroned by Oleksandr Usyk.
He had looked set to face Deontay Wilder next, but after a deal from Saudi Arabia’s Skills Challenge Promotions was withdrawn the fight was thrown into doubt.
Speaking to Boxing Social about when fans could expect to see the highly anticipated match-up, Hearn is now targeting March or April next year.
“We’re in talks about Las Vegas, we’re in talks about sites in the Middle East and I do think we’ll see that fight. I do think AJ will fight in December or early January and then I think there is no other fight other than the Deontay Wilder fight and that’s the one that we want, we’ve wanted it for a while now. We were ready to take it in January we’re happy to take it in March and April.”
Hearn then mapped out his fight path for Joshua before the 34-year-old hangs up the gloves for good.
“AJ has had two fights this year and taken much less money than he’s used to but he’s not that bothered, he wants momentum and activity but he also wants the big fights. AJ wants to fight Tyson Fury more than anything in the world and really when I’m mapping out his career I see Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury as the final two for him to compete against.
In my vision AJ fights Deontay Wilder, knocks him and fights Tyson Fury and beats him and then retires. Then he’s done the lot and we can just sail off into the sunset.”
Joshua looks set to return to the ring in December or early January with a host of possible opponents throwing their name into the hat to face him.