By Radio Rahim

Sheffield - IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) is likely going to have a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko next, according to the British boxer's promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport.

Last month, a record crowd of 90,000 at Wembley witnessed Joshua stop Klitschko in the eleventh round to win unify the three belts.

Klitschko was down in the fifth round, but rallied back to drop Joshua hard in the sixth. Klitschko took over the fight, and then Joshua himself rallied to drop Klitschko two more times before the fight was waved off.

Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker have all been calling for Joshua - but it was Klitschko who had an immediate rematch clause.

Klitschko's manager, Bernd Boente, indicated to Hearn that Wladimir is likely going to exercise the option for a fall rematch. A fight with Fury was the preferred option, but there are too many obstacles to overcome. Fury has yet to reclaim his license to box and his hearing with drug testing agency UKAD is pushed back until October. 

Even if Klitschko is the next opponent finalized, there is no avoiding the IBF mandatory defense against Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria. Hearn admits that a fight with Pulev will have to take place sooner than later. Pulev has a single defeat on his record, which was a knockout loss to Klitschko from several years ago.

"No one wanted to see Tyson Fury back in the ring more than Anthony. The next step for Anthony Joshua will be announced in the next three or four weeks – it’s likely to be Wladimir Klitschko,” Hearn told BoxingScene.com.

"We also need to fight [Kubrat] Pulev at some point – whether it’s not next or the one after. He [Joshua] was in the office Monday and he has untold offers from around the world.”