Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, is not exactly sure if his superstar boxer will make good on a recent statement - where Joshua offered up his services as a sparring partner for domestic rival Tyson Fury.
Fury is preparing for a scheduled rematch with WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on February 22 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"Fury if you need me, if you need me for sparring – we’re going to fight one day, I’ve sparred Tyson Fury when we were kids anyway - I’ll go out to America to spar Tyson Fury to get him ready for this Wilder fight," Joshua said to Sky Sports.
And Fury was very interested in using Joshua as a sparring partner - and then fighting him later in the year.
"When I beat Wilder I will fight you AJ no problem and I'd love to have you in camp. I hope you mean it because I'd love to have you in training camp. Thanks very much and well done in your last fight, congratulations," Fury stated.
Joshua revealed in a recent interview that sparring Fury could provide some experience with his tricky style and create a potential advantage for a future fight between the two.
Hearn believes it's a bad idea of Fury's part, because Joshua could potentially re-open the serious cut that the "Gypsy King' suffered over his right eye, during his September victory over Otto Wallin.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if he went out there. It’s a bit weird because he might fight the winner. Josh is his own boss, if he fancies it, he’ll just go. Doesn’t matter what I or Rob (McCracken, trainer) will say, he’ll just go. I wouldn’t want to open up that cut," Hearn told IFL TV.