By Edward Chaykovsky

Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport is mapping out a schedule for IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17KOs).

Hearn is already making plans to have Joshua return in late November or early December, possibly at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. One potential date is November 26th. The frontrunner opponent is Kubrat Pulev (23-1, 12KOs), but the negotiations are not going that smoothly.

If Joshua wins in the fall, Hearn has lined up a return in March at the O2 Arena in London. That fight will most likely come against his mandatory challenger Joseph Parker (20-0, 17KOs).

Once March is in the books, Hearn plans to bring Joshua back on a date in July at Wembley in a major fight. Hearn wants the July return to come against WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, former two division champion David Haye or WBO/IBO/WBA champion Tyson Fury.

"We've already got a three-fight plan mapped out, which is November/December, March at The O2 then July at Wembley, which will either be against Haye, Fury or Wilder. This night in November or December is going to be huge. The Parker fight could be for March, or it could even be David Price if he is to fight and knock out Joseph Parker and then we want Haye, Fury or Wilder next summer," Hearn told Sky Sports.

Pulev is promoted by Sauerland Event and Hearn expects to hold a meeting with them at the Jurgen Brahmer-Nathan Cleverly press conference on Thursday. He hopes to finalize the fight.

Sauerland also promotes Olympic bronze medal winner David Price. Hearn wants to match Price and Parker on the November undercard, with the winner getting Joshua in March.

"May the best man win if Price and Parker happens," Hearn said. "Whoever wins that fight, they get a shot at AJ. People are saying to me 'Parker doesn't have to earn his shot' and quite right, he could sit and wait but he doesn't - he wants to be in real fights and showcase himself to the UK public and that interests me.

"If Parker is the real deal, which he could well be, he will beat David Price - in my opinion. If he does, it'll be a great fight and a great knockout and it makes the Joshua-Parker fight huge. That really interests me. But then what happens if Price does that? It immediately becomes a huge fight between him and AJ."