By Edward Chaykovsky
Promoter Eddie Hearn's gut is telling him that IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17KOs) will likely face Wladimir Klitschko on November 26th in Manchester.
Klitschko (64-4, 53KOs) was scheduled to face Tyson Fury in a rematch for the IBO/WBO/WBA world titles on October 29th, also in Manchester. The fight fell through when Fury withdrew with a mental condition. Now the boxer has tested positive for cocaine in a random drug test - and he may get stripped of his titles with all of the controversies and inactivity since last November.
Joseph Parker (21-0, 18KOs) is the mandatory challenger to Joshua's world title. He was back in action on Saturday, knocking out Alexander Dimitrenko in three rounds. Parker is also being targeted by Hearn for the November date, but the New Zealand superstar has already started making moves to face Andy Ruiz on December 10 for the vacant WBO title - if Fury is stripped of his championship.
Hearn is currently deep in talks for the Klitschko fight. A lot of the details depend on what the sanctioning bodies will do to Fury. Both Joshua and Klitschko are on board and want the fight to happen.
“There are so many different things coming in to play here,” Hearn told talkSPORT’s Fight Club, with Gareth A Davies and Johnny Nelson.
“Obviously we have got to strike a deal first and that is what we are working on at the moment. Once we do get a deal, it is then a case of going to the governing body and saying: ‘Do you want to sanction this fight for the world title?’
“For me, I think the answer will be an immediate yes. But until we have a deal with Wladimir Klitschko, there’s no point having that conversation. I am confident this fight will happen – and will happen in 2016.
“Anthony Joshua wants to fight, Wladimir Klitschko appears to want the fight and that is half the battle. Now it is a case of getting the right deal. I think we are close and if we can tie everything up in the next week there is a real chance you will see it.”
