Eddie Hearn is a man with a plan.
The Matchroom boss has wasted no time in putting the next steps in place for his most marketable fighter, Anthony Joshua.
Less than three weeks have passed since Joshua stopped Wladimir Klitschko in the 11th round of their Wembley showdown but ‘AJ’ seemingly has his next two fights already sorted.
It would appear as though a rematch with Klitschko is next up for Joshua in October of this year, with Cardiff’s Principality Stadium a front-runner to host the second meeting.
Sooner than expected https://t.co/kukQzNigLJ
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) May 15, 2017
Joshua has already lodged an exemption request to delay the mandatory defence of his IBF title against Kubrat Pulev until next year but that may be even further away than you might imagine.
According to Tyson Fury, a date has been set for his all-British clash with Joshua next year.
Fury is in the midst of a gruelling training regime to shed the weight he gained during his lengthy break from fighting.
The 28-year-old remains without a boxing licence and that looks set to continue until later this year after a UK Anti-Doping hearing was postponed last week.
Too much money is to be made for Fury vs. Joshua not to happen and, according to Fury, a date has already been set for the heavyweight clash between the two undefeated Brits.
“If the country wants me to fight a weightlifter, then that is what I will fight. No problem,” Fury told talkSPORT.
“It gives me motivation that a lot of people have picked him to beat me but, as I have said many times, we are in a sport that is called sweet science, not a bodybuilding contest or a strong man competition.
“When you can’t box and move, slip and slide and ride shots, and one man can, it is an easy fight.
“I will give him a boxing lesson and he will get so tired of chasing me around, trying to land big punches and missing all the time, I would stop him in the late half of the fight.
“Klitschko almost done him in round six. He was gone. Round five he was fatigued, round six he got plastered and had to crawl off the canvas. He was getting outboxed.
“He was landing big shots easy but I ain’t 41, I am 28. I will be 29 next year when the fight happens.
“Eddie Hearn [Joshua’s promoter] has already booked a date in: the 18th of April 2018.”
