Anthony Joshua has selected his next opponent, as Eddie Hearn has revealed that it's not Tyson Fury.
After more than a year out of the ring, British boxing legend Joshua made his return in a bout against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul at the end of last year.
The former heavyweight champion knocked Paul down twice in the fifth round before finally picking up the finish in round six.
Since then, fans have been eager to see who Joshua would face next, with a blockbuster battle of Britain against Fury now on the cards after the Gypsy King came out of retirement earlier this month.
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But now, Hearn, Joshua's long-term promoter, has confirmed that Fury isn't the next opponent that Joshua has in mind, as the Brit first wants to take on former rival Deontay Wilder.
Speaking to TalkSport, Hearn revealed that a fight with Fury is in the plans, but only after Joshua takes on a warm-up fight beforehand.
Although many would assume that this warm up bought would be against an opponent far less formidable than Wilder, this is exactly who Joshua wants to meet in the ring next following the American's win over Derek Chisora.
But the matchup has clearly been deemed too risky by the Saudi Arabian promoters looking to set up the Joshua Fury superfight as Hearn has revealed they have presented AJ with a two-fight deal that doesn't include the Bronze Bomber.
"The deal that we have been offered to fight in July and then fight Tyson Fury in November is not with Deontay Wilder in mind," Hearn revealed.
"The powers that be don't really want us to be in that type of fight. AJ has also told me that he will fight Wilder and Fury back-to-back.
"This is an offer that has been made by Turki Alalshikh, Ring and Riyadh Season, wherever that fight could be in July and then fight Tyson Fury.
"That is the deal that has been proposed to us at the moment, and that looks like the route that we will take."
Hearn continued, claiming that he believes that Wilder and Fury would be the perfect two-fight deal but understands why those organising AJ v Fury would be concerned about jeopardising the event.
"If we [Matchroom] were promoting the event, I would be going Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury," he said.
"But this is a deal that has been put to us with the Fury fight as the mountain top.
"There will be a lot of people who won't want to go into a fight that they feel is risky and put that fight in jeopardy.
"We have no problem fighting Wilder, but I don't think it will be Wilder under the basis of this deal."
Topics: Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, Eddie Hearn, Heavyweight Boxing
Ben McCrum