Eddie Hearn is now confident Anthony Joshua will fight Oleksandr Usyk in June following suggestions the heavyweight champion will soon leave Ukraine.
Usyk dominated Joshua last September to claim the IBF, WBO and WBA titles with the Briton immediately activating his rematch clause.
The two were expected to meet in the spring but Usyk’s decision to return to his homeland following the Russian invasion has seen boxing matters take a back seat.
The 35-year-old joined Kyiv’s defence forces upon his return to Ukraine and told CNN earlier this month: ‘My country and my pride are more important to me than a championship belt’.
Martial law in Ukraine states that men between the age of 18 and 60 are barred from leaving the country during the conflict.
But boxing promoter Bob Arum, who represents Usyk’s countryman Vasiliy Lomachenko who has also joined the fight against Russia, revealed last week both men have been given special permission to leave the country in order to prepare for their respective title fights in the coming months.
There are understood to be ongoing talks between the Ukrainian government and Usyk’s team with Joshua’s promoter now hopeful the fight will take place by the end of June.
‘I think that’s the most likely scenario,’ Hearn told The DAZN Boxing Show when asked about whether Joshua will face Usyk next.
‘We had those conversations about a week ago and I had my doubts as to whether Usyk would be ready, but I believe now that there’s been some kind of conversations with Usyk and even Lomachenko as well with the government to say ‘look, how do we sit in terms of competing in major sporting events.’
‘I don’t think Usyk’s going to want to wait, once you start waiting anything can happen so we actually had some talks this morning.’
Following Usyk’s decision to return to Ukraine, Hearn suggested Joshua could take an interim fight should the Ukrainian need more time away from boxing.
Joe Joyce and Otto Wallin were among the names suggested and discussed by Joshua himself and while Hearn has not ruled out the interim fight, he believes Usyk will be next.
‘I do think Usyk will take that fight next, we’re looking at the end of June for that fight and that’s when the fight has got to take place by,’ Hearn said.
‘If he’s not ready, we’ll push for an interim fight, but my gut feeling right now, and this could change is that you will be seeing Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Usyk for the unified world heavyweight championship next.’
Usyk’s fellow fighter and close friend Lomachenko meanwhile was in line to take on lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr in June.
However, the three-weight world champion has withdrawn from that fight, opting to remain in Ukraine.
MORE : Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko given permission to leave Ukraine for fights against Anthony Joshua and George Kambosos Jr
MORE : Vasiliy Lomachenko turns down historic world title fight to stay in Ukraine and defend his country from Russian invasion
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