Eddie Hearn denies claims talks over February showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are underway

EDDIE HEARN has dismissed suggestions talks over an undisputed heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have resumed.

The long-awaited Battle of Britain was due to take place in Saudi Arabia next month before an American judge ordered Fury to have a trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.

AFP

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua were meant to fight in Saudi Arabia next month[/caption]

Matchroom Boxing

But Eddie Hearn has dismissed claims talks over an early 2022 showdown between the pair have been held[/caption]

Reports have suggested preliminary talks over an early 2022 showdown between the pair have taken place, a claim Hearn insists is not true.

The Matchroom Boxing chief told iFL TV: “Someone said, ‘When do you think that fight will happen when it happens?’”

“I’m giving you what you want, clickbait. Let’s deal with Oleksandr Usyk.

“That’s the focus, that fight [Anthony Joshua vs Usyk], and then we worry about the rest after.

“I didn’t say there were any talks [between Joshua and Fury].

“I said if that fight was to happen, I guess that’s the time that it would happen. It is [a formidable task for Joshua facing Usyk].”

I didn’t say there were any talks

Eddie Hearn on rumours talks over a 2022 showdown between Joshua and Fury being underway

Joshua, 31, must come through his WBO mandatory bout with former undisputed cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk in order to preserve the biggest fight in the history of British boxing.

AJ will defend his unified titles against Usyk on September 25 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Fury meets Deontay Wilder for a third time on October 9.

And if both he and Fury come through their respective bouts, Hearn is hopeful the pair will finally share the ring early next year.

He told iFL TV: “I think that was pretty much the case anyway.

“But fighting September 25, it’s very difficult to do a fight in December.

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“And a lot of our conversations now about the undisputed fight are end of January, February.

“So it probably helps. Fury might’ve wanted to do another fight in November or December.

“And then the whole thing is, like, never-ending.”