No Anthony Joshua fight with Tyson Fury for at least 15 months, says Eddie Hearn

Eddie Hearn has ruled out a clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury for at least 15 months.

Promoter Hearn insists Joshua will not wait for Fury, even if his British rival beats Deontay Wilder on December 1.

Joshua’s camp will this week attempt to begin resurrecting a world title unification battle with Wilder, following the stunning seventh-round knockout of Russian Alexander Povetkin.

They are hoping WBC champion Wilder defeats Fury because they believe the American would deliver a far more enticing prospect at Wembley next April, before a planned second fight in 2019 for Joshua in the USA.

Hearn told Standard Sport: “Wilder is exciting. He can render people unconscious. Fury cannot. The only way he can beat world-class heavyweights is to spoil the fight and out-fiddle them.

“It is highly skilful but not that entertaining or good to watch. If he does beat Wilder in December — if that fight happens — then the idea of Joshua versus Fury is bigger than [simply any other] all-British fight.

“But it couldn’t happen until at least December next year or even until 2020. That is because Wilder would surely have a re-match clause to fight Fury again first. That would be a non-starter for us to wait until then.

“We want to give the public what they really want — a fight against Wilder at Wembley next April.”

A new round of negotiations between the Joshua and Wilder camps now look set to take place, following the breakdown of talks in the summer.

Hearn will demand that an April showdown with Wilder is agreed before December 1 — with the proviso that the contract be scrapped if Fury beats the US fighter.

Anthony Joshua looks to next fight after beating Povetkin

If Fury wins, then the alternative for Joshua is a re-match with fellow Londoner Dillian Whyte — whom he beat in 2015. Wembley has been already booked for April 13, regardless of Joshua’s opponent.

Hearn also said Joshua is likely to fight abroad for the first time in the second half of next year.

He added: “We know what we are doing on April 13. Then the plan is to box in the United States or in another territory.”

Joshua, who will begin training for his April opponent in January, said: “I can’t be bothered talking about Wilder, Wilder, Wilder. If he wants it, let’s get it on.

“He is a good fighter and a good champion but he needs to take a step up against me.

“I don’t think he wants to avoid me now. He can see what is going on over on this side of the pond.”