Major Fury vs Joshua contract update issued by Eddie Hearn as next move becomes clear

Eddie Hearn has suggested that Anthony Joshua will almost certainly box another opponent before facing Tyson Fury, as “AJ”’s promoter lifted the lid on negotiations over the super-fight. Joshua shared an exchange with Fury following the “Gypsy King”’s decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov on his return to boxing last weekend, when Fury called upon his long-time rival from inside the ring – in a bid to finally get their “Battle of Britain” booked. “AJ” did not bow to Fury’s invitation inside the ropes but did take the microphone to say he’ll “see you in that ring in due time”, a period which may include a warm-up bout for the former world heavyweight champion, who hasn’t fought since being involved in a car crash that took the lives of two of his friends in December.

Matchroom chief Hearn said that Joshua perhaps doesn’t need an extra fight to adequately prepare, after Fury failed to light up the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but told publications including The Independent that it would be fair to expect the 36-year-old to step into a ring before he shares one with Fury. Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua’s promoter, at a press conference in London (Getty) Asked if Joshua needs a warm-up bout, Hearn said: “Maybe not after what he saw on Saturday, but I think to be fair to Fury, I think [Joshua] would be rusty. I think the 12 rounds would be massively advantageous for him after that.

“So, you know, [Fury] was trying to palm me off that we’ve ‘had our warm-up fight’ against Jake Paul. I thought it was a bit cheeky! But I expect us to fight someone of the same kind of level as Makhmudov and then fight Fury.

“The deal that we’ve been offered is that it’s not to fight Tyson Fury straight way. We talked to him, we said: ‘Look, these are your two options. We can fight Fury straight away, or we can do it this way.