Hearn: Fury Should Skip Stay-Busy Return, Face Joshua Next

Eddie Hearn, promoter for WBA, IBF, IBO, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, wants to see WBC champ Tyson Fury bypass a stay-busy fight and instead face Joshua in 2021.

Joshua is back in action on December 12, when he defends the belts against IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev.

Fury was scheduled to fight on December 5th, but the contest fell out due to monetary issues and a legal claim from Deontay Wilder, who is attempting to enforce a rematch clause.

Should Joshua win, he will be in line for either Fury or a mandatory defense against Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury would have to overcome the legal drama with Wilder.

But if he does, Hearn is ready to finalize the fight after both sides had agreed to a 50-50 monetary split earlier this year.

"Listen, it's completely over to them. We have the dynamics of the deal in place. I don't want to hear [from] Fury: 'No, I'm thinking about fighting in March or April.' Why? Just go straight into the AJ fight. It's going to be the same timeframe. [Fury] boxed in February. It's not like he's been out and he didn't box in 2020," Hearn told Sky Sports.

"Listen, Fury doesn't want to take a small fight. They couldn't even get the money together to give him a fight in December, so let's give him plenty of money. Let's give him the biggest fight. Fury wants to fight AJ, unquestionably, and AJ wants to fight Fury. It's no conversation to be had until AJ's hand is raised on December 12. Once that is made, let's get it on. Let's give everyone the fight they want and deserve."

Joshua is very motivated to fight in a full division unification.

"It's always been my wish. Not just the WBC but competing with the toughest challenges that the heavyweight division has to offer. When the time is right, the opportunity will present itself. When the WBC talk comes around? Hopefully people understand that: 'Joshua is serious'. Which I am," Joshua said.