AJ SHOWDOWN WITH FURY ON THE CARDS FOR 2018
ANTHONY JOSHUA could fight Tyson Fury next April at Wembley in an extraordinary battle of Britain, according to Eddie Hearn. Joshua’s promoter is provisionally targeting the 2018 date after ruling out a grudge fight this year, with Joshua’s next assignment most likely to be a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko in October or November. Joshua immediately called out Fury after his incredible win over Klitschko on Saturday. But Fury’s impending doping hearing and fitness issues mean he will have to wait until next spring at the earliest for his crack at the IBF and WBA heavyweight world champion. Even that slot is dependent on the outcome of his National Anti-Doping Panel hearing, which is set for next Monday, after Fury was charged with a doping offence last June. If cleared, he will hope to have his British Boxing Board of Control licence restored after it was revoked over his ‘antidoping and medical issues’. In his 17-month absence from the ring, Fury has battled severe depression and ballooned in weight, but he returned to training last month and claims to have lost one-and-a-half stones in the past week. He wants to fight again in July, but Hearn dismissed the possibility of Fury facing Joshua in 2017. Hearn told Sportsmail: ‘There is nothing I or AJ want more than to see Tyson back in the ring. But it won’t be next. Tyson just won’t be ready. ‘The best chance of a Fury fight is April 2018, at Wembley. If we can make it happen, we will.’