Hearn: Joshua Announcement Next Week, Klitschko in Lead

By Edward Chaykovsky

Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport expects to announce Anthony Joshua's opponent next week. Joshua, who holds the IBF's heavyweight championship, is currently slated to return on November 28th in Manchester.

The frontrunner to face Joshua is former division king Wladimir Klitschko, who was slated to face WBO/WBA/IBO champion Tyson Fury on October 29th in Manchester - before Fury withdrew from the contest with mental issues. Fury has since tested positive for cocaine in samples presented during two separate random drug tests.

If a deal is reached with Klitschko, then the date for Joshua (17-0, 17KOs) will likely get pushed back to early December to allow both sides to properly promote the contest.

Hearn believes there is a very good chance of Joshua vs. Klitschko getting finalized. He is working around the clock with Klitschko's handlers to iron out the financial terms.

If a deal with Klitschko falls through, there is always IBF mandatory challenge Joseph Parker, but he's more interested in facing Andy Ruiz for the vacant WBO heavyweight crown on December 10th in New Zealand - if the WBO strips Fury of his world title.

Hearn told Sky Sports: "Next week [we'll announce Joshua's opponent], for sure. We're getting close now. Obviously a lot's been happening in the heavyweight landscape. We were due to announce our opponent last week."

"Things have changed, opportunities have arisen and when you're talking about fights of this size, you've got to get everything 100 percent right. We're in a great position right now. Maybe my smile gives things away but, fingers crossed, next week you'll have some news that will blow your mind."

"One thing's for sure - in Anthony Joshua's mind, in Wladimir Klitschko's mind, I believe both of them are now in the gym every day thinking about that man as their next opponent. I think everybody is working together to try and make sure that is the next fight. Of course, there are always some hurdles to overcome."

"But myself and Bernard Bonte (Klitschko's promoter) are working together and we really want to get this done. When all parties want to get a deal done, generally it comes together. It's certainly not done yet but Anthony Joshua getting Wladimir Klitschko should be the next fight. Fingers crossed we can get there."

"If it's Wladimir Klitschko, there's a very good chance it could be pushed into December. It's seven weeks tonight until November 26. We're not going to get a deal done until the middle or end of next week. Then you're talking about six weeks. This is the biggest fight in the heavyweight division if it can get made. We want to build this up. It feels like it should have a long run."