According to Eddie Hearn, promoter of IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs), a showdown with Tyson Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) is more realistic for April 2018 at Wembley.

Shortly after his thrilling 11th-round stoppage of Wladimir Klitschko at London's Wembley on Saturday, Joshua 'called out' Fury by saying: "Fury, where are you at, baby?"

Fury responded by telling Joshua that he wants to face him next and could beat him with "one arm tied behind my back."

Last Saturday night, Joshua knocked out Wladimir Klitschko in eleven rounds before a record crowd of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in London to unify the WBA, IBO, IBF world titles.

Fury also defeated Klitschko, with an upset twelve round unanimous decision in November 2015, but he hasn't boxed since, with mental health problems forcing him to relinquish his titles, while his licence to box was subsequently suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control. There is still an outstanding issues with drug testing agency UKAD, who claim the fighter tested positive for a banned substance in early 2015.

Hearn believes a fight with Fury, based on all of the issues, would make the contest more likely for April.

Klitschko however has an immediate rematch clause, which Hearn believes the boxer could very well exercise to set the stage for a fall collision in October or November.

Hearn told Sportsmail: "There is nothing I or AJ would want more than to see Tyson back in the ring. But it won’t be next. Tyson just won’t be ready. Physically he is not at the races and he has a lot to resolve in terms of his doping hearing and getting his licence back. As it stands, I think the best chance of a Fury fight is April 2018, at Wembley. That depends on a successful defence in October or November. Rest assured, if we can make it happen, we will make it happen."

"I believe Wladimir is keen [to do the rematch]. If he is then it is a sequel people would definitely want to see. I’m sure Wlad believes he nearly had AJ out of there and I know that AJ wants to iron out some mistakes and do a better job next time."