Eddie Hearn already has 2018 mapped out for his biggest fighters.
Anthony Joshua’s year is pretty much set in stone, with unification bouts against WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker and WBC title-holder Deontay Wilder likely up for ‘AJ’ in the first half of 2018 before he sets his sights on an all-British showdown with Tyson Fury.
Hearn also has a plan in place for Tony Bellew, who has toyed with the idea of retirement in recent months.
The Liverpool fighter will indeed see out his grudge rematch with David Haye, with the rescheduled fight between the British rivals set to go down on May 5 at The O2 in London after Haye was forced to withdraw from the much-anticipated second meeting with Bellew which was originally slated for this weekend.
Road to recovery is officially underway. My bandages came off yesterday and physio started today!
As the saying goes, ‘if you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere’
6 weeks of focus and rehab – Bring it on 💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/Becv4MJb6v
— David Haye (@davidhaye) November 24, 2017
Bellew’s next move will be interesting but, with promoter Hearn confident of a second consecutive victory for ‘The Bomber’ over Haye, the Matchroom boss insists that a verbal agreement is in place for Bellew to take on Fury.
“He’s going to KO David Haye, and then he’s going to fight the Gypsy King. They’ve already shaken on it. They’ve already got a deal,” Hearn told Behind the Gloves.
While he doesn’t promote the returning Fury, Hearn has recommended three opponents for the controversial heavyweight in 2018 and they all come from his stable.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcpI1l1DVQW/
As Joshua busies himself completing his collection of belts, Fury will be offered fights against Dillian Whyte and Bellew before the big one hopefully goes down in late 2018.
“The good news is he’s now served his ban. It looks almost inevitable that we’ll see him return to boxing, which is great for the sport,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
“We’ve got three fights for him. He can fight Dillian Whyte on the comeback, then Tony Bellew and then he can have Anthony Joshua.”
So, in Hearn’s mind, Fury will fight Whyte-Bellew-Joshua and ‘AJ’ will fight Parker-Wilder-Fury in what promises to be another incredible year for British boxing.
