Eddie Hearn claims Anthony Joshua is 'nailed on' to fight Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder' this year

Anthony Joshua is ‘nailed’ to fight Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder in 2023, says his promoter Eddie Hearn – as he hopes to join his star fighter in three showdowns this year.

Joshua is still reeling from his massive split-decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk last summer and is looking to relaunch himself as a fighter and put himself back on the path to becoming a world champion again – with the 33-year-old is now looking for a new coach after parting ways with Robert Garcia.

Hearn said Joshua was almost ready to announce his first opponent for this year – with his next fight set for April – and said he was planning three fights against credible opponents, and said Wilder – who is set to face Andy Ruiz next – and Fury is realistic. targets for the end of the year.

Eddie Hearn (L) outlines his plans for Anthony Joshua (R) to fight three times in 2023

He believes his star fighter is ‘nailed’ to fight Tyson Fury (L) or Deontay Wilder (R) this year

‘I really believe Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury are nailed down for 2023,’ he told DAZN. ‘Cause AJ shouldn’t be interested in having three or four no-fights. He will listen to his training team and take their advice.

‘There is an open line of communication with [Deontay Wilder’s co-manager] Shelly Finkel. He is [Wilder] will fight Andy Ruiz. That match was ordered, and AJ will return in the first week of April.

‘I’m not leaving [that] Fight #2 of the year might be Deontay Wilder, but we have a plan. This guy is one of the biggest stars in boxing. This year has more to offer the heavyweight division, but it’s also a very important moment that we must do right.

Those lines of communication are open with Deontay Wilder, and we know it’s a big fight. We know that the battle is doing huge numbers in the UK, the US, and the Middle East. It doesn’t really matter, and that’s the fight.

‘He wants to be in the biggest fights possible, and he’s proven that his whole career.’

Hearn calls AJ ‘one of the biggest stars in boxing’ and says he will face ‘credible’ opponents

He also teased a massive rematch against Joshua’s old rival Dillian Whyte last summer

Joshua looked set to face Fury in December before protracted negotiations collapsed in October after the Gypsy King offered him a shot at his WBC world title belt – before his rival encouraged him in slow talks before finally calling it quits , and claimed. they will never fight.

As for Wilder, Joshua has been trying to fight the Bronze Bomber since they were both world champions between 2016 and 2020. The American’s team said they once sent a contract to AJ’s representatives, but could not follow through up their claim that Joshua will earn $50 m from the fight.

Hearn also teased a big rematch against Joshua’s old rival Dillian Whyte in the summer, saying an epic clash against Wilder or Fury could be his reward should he achieve it.

‘The plan now is to rebuild him to become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world, and the trainer wants to take the appropriate steps to do that,’ he added.

‘It was great to be brave, listen to Twitter, go out and fight Deontay Wilder [next] and doing this and doing that, but there has to be a plan, a smart plan.

‘A smart plan is he wants to come back against a top 15 man in a credible fight and come back in the summer against probably Dillian Whyte and then move forward against Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury in a mega-fight in late 2023.’

He told fans they can expect an announcement about Joshua’s plans next week and also revealed details about his new coaching set up to follow.

‘You’re talking about two of the biggest names in boxing in Canelo and Anthony Joshua [fighting this year]. AJ is fighting a month earlier than Canelo Alvarez, so he’s pretty much ready to go with an announcement in a week or so.

Joshua is in ‘a great place mentally’, Hearn added and said he should fight again in April

‘We already know a bit about his date. We are talking to three or four of our opponents. Obviously, the rumors of his new training team, and there will be a full announcement from Anthony Joshua about that.

‘He’s in a good place and ready to start camp, actually. I believe this week the camp starts. Honestly, I can’t give Anthony Joshua an opponent he won’t turn down. It’s more about the training team.

‘He’s excited. He was in a good place mentally. Like I said, camp is about to start for him, and I expect to see a good performance from him in April.

‘When people talk about rebuilding. We are not rebuilding here. I’m looking for momentum. I’m not talking about it [Joshua] fighting a man you’ve never heard of. I’m talking about a top 15 guy that AJ can come in and work with a new training team and have a big match in the stadium in the summer.’