Joshua plots Wembley showdown with Fury
EDDIE Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua wants a showdown with Tyson Fury.
But the promoter claims an allBritish heavyweight title fight – potentially at Wembley – will not happen until next year.
Joshua stopped Wladimir Klitschko to become unified world champion on Saturday – and immediately called out undefeated Fury.
That challenge was accepted, with Fury planning his comeback after 17 months out of the ring since his own victory against Klitschko in 2015.
Fury’s licence was suspended last year pending an investigation into anti-doping and medical issues.
Hearn insists the 28-year-old will not be ready to face Joshua until next year at the earliest.
“Believe me when I say that there is nothing that I or AJ would want more than to see Tyson back in the ring, but it won’t be next – Tyson just won’t be ready,” the Matchroom promoter wrote in his column for the Daily Mail. “Physically he is not at the races and he has a lot to resolve in terms of his doping hearing and getting his licence back. “Those have to be sorted before we can make anything happen. “If they do get sorted, then it is a huge option for us in the short to mid-term future. “We all know that AJ would love that fight. “As it stands, I think the best chance of a Fury fight is April 2018, at Wembley. “That depends on a successful defence in October or November and everything falling into place for Promoter Eddie Hearn Fury. If it does, that will be another incredible night for an incredible fighter.
“Rest assured, if we can make it happen, we will make it happen.”
Fury is currently training in Marbella and said this week that he believes he can take on Joshua without a warm up fight.
“Styles do make fights, but I am sure I can beat AJ with one arm tied behind my back,” he told Sky. “I don’t even need a warm-up if he wants this.
“I would just like to congratulate AJ for getting through the nip-andtuck, life-and-death situation, against an old man, so well done.
“But let’s face it, I am the man, the number one in the division.
“There can only ever be one heavyweight, especially in our part of the world, and it’s me.
“It definitely isn’t a pumped-up heavyweight, I can tell you that.”
Fury defeated Klitschko by unanimous decision in Dusseldorf in 2015.
But he relinquished his belts without ever making a defence.