By Edward Chaykovsky

WBA/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Tyson Fury could be the odd man out if his domestic counterparts, David Haye and Anthony Joshua, decide to fight each other by the end of the year.

Haye (27-2, 25KOs), a former two division world champion, broke a three and a half year layoff on January 16th with an easy first round knockout of Mark De Mori. 

Olympic gold medal winner Joshua (15-0, 15KOs) is a rising star in the weight division and holds the British/Commonwealth world titles. He fought lastmonth with a bruising seventh round knockout of Dillian Whyte.

Haye is scheduled to return on May 21 and Joshua will see action in early April.

Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, who handle Joshua, is very interested in making that fight but he's not entirely sure on when the contest would take place.

Hearn would like to see Joshua win a world title before a Haye showdown takes place.

Fury also wants a piece of Joshua, but at some point in the future when the fight makes the most financial sense. He wants Joshua to get a few more fights under his belt. Next up for Fury, he must overcome a contracted rematch with Wladimir Klitschko.

A fight between Fury and Haye is unlikely, at least for now. Fury has rejected any possibility of facing Haye. The unified champion is still steaming over Haye's decision to withdraw from their two scheduled fight dates. Haye withdrew both times citing injuries, but Fury doubts they were legitimate. Haye did undergo shoulder surgery after the second withdrawal.

If Haye and Joshua decide to fight - Fury views it as a 50-50 contest. In the eyes of Fury, whoever lands first is going to win - but he doesn't see any reason for Joshua to take that fight.  

"I think it can happen if Eddie Hearn wants it to," said Fury to Sky Sports. "I think either can win if they land first. "I think Joshua is a bit of a novice and struggled with Dillian Whyte. If Haye catches him early, it's goodnight. It's curtains. But why should Joshua give Haye a chance? Haye has had one fight in three years and now wants a fight with a prospect."