Anthony Joshua has outlined when he and Tyson Fury could finally meet in the ring this year.
The Watford powerhouse has hinted that he may end up facing Fury in September at Wembley providing his rival emerges victorious from his undisputed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk on May 18.
Joshua is set to return to the ring in SeptemberCredit: Getty
Fury and Usyk have a two-way rematch clause signed into their contracts, which the loser of inaugural encounter can trigger for a return bout.
However, a substantial step-aside fee from Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, who is funding the four-belt shoot out, may tempt Usyk into allowing Fury vs Joshua to happen next.
Hinting at the possibility of him and Fury finally getting it on soon, Joshua told the BBC: “Boxing is changing a lot, there is a new player, Turki Alalshikh, who is taking the world by storm.
“He is doing what he wants for the fans, it’s amazing. So if the fans demand it, I know that he will deliver.
“I know the fans want me and Fury, I want that. I’m not going to give away plans, but he is a man of action.
“It’s coming, most definitely it’s coming.”Pressed further on whether a fight with Fury would be next for him, Joshua added: “To be honest, he [Alalshikh] said be ready for September.
“Why he said that is because they have got a fight on June 1, all the heavyweights, five vs five, Eddie Hearn vs Frank Warren.
Joshua could face Fury next if he beats Usyk in MayCredit: Getty
“And they have got Fury vs Usyk in May. And then they will have me in September. It’s unbelievable.”
Joshua has been out of action since his two-round demolition of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in March.
The Cameroonian cage fighter had caused Fury all kinds of problems five months prior, but AJ had no such issues when they duked it out at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia.
Fury hasn’t fought since his nip-and-tuck split decision win over Ngannou, but he is just over three weeks away from returning to the ring against Usyk.
The heavyweight titans were originally set to face each other on February 17, however, their fight was pushed back by a month after Fury suffered a cut in sparring.
On May 18, they will finally settle their score in Saudi Arabia as they bid to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.
