Eddie Hearn, who promotes IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, is actually feeling good about Tyson Fury's decision to sign a co-promotional deal with Top Rank.
Top Rank has an exclusive content agreement with ESPN, and that factor has created doubts about a potential rematch with WBC champion Deontay Wilder, who is contractually tied to Premier Boxing Champions. PBC has content agreements with Showtime and Fox Sports.
Wilder and Fury fought last December, on Showtime Pay-Per-View, to a controversial twelve round split draw.
Joshua is scheduled to make his United States debut against undefeated challenger Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden on June 1.
Because of the network alliances, Hearn believes a Wilder vs. Fury rematch is now harder to make.
Having said that, Hearn would like to see Wilder take an interim-fight and then go for Joshua - should both boxers win.
"I think it's good news for us, probably in that I think Deontay Wilder should be looking at it and say 'My fight with Fury is unlikely now, so let's get the AJ fight done'. I would like to see Wilder have a fight and then fight the undisputed fight, if Joshua can beat Miller," Hearn told Sky Sports.
"That's what we want. I don't know what's going to happen with ESPN and Fury. He's obviously done a deal that he felt benefitted him financially.
Jarrell 'Big Baby' Miller shoved Joshua before their press conference in New York. He must know it puts the Wilder fight in doubt, maybe he's not bothered about that. We've got to focus on our own business, and that's what we've always tried to do."
"We hope that we go Jarrell Miller, Deontay Wilder for the belt. It's not about Wilder or Fury, it's just about that final belt. He stands one belt away from going down in a history as an undisputed heavyweight world champion. That's what he has to achieve. I'm hoping now that Wilder looks at it and says 'wow, ok, maybe I should get on and make the Joshua fight, so very, very interesting times, and quite possibly anything can happen."