Eddie Hearn will try to finally make the Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury clash if an undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk fails to materialise.
Talks currently appear dead between Fury and the unified Ukrainian heavyweight champion, though the Matchroom promoter himself thinks there remains a chance negotiations will ultimately be successful.
Fury and Joshua had previously engaged in discussions over their own potential undisputed clash in previous years, and again at the end of last year, though Fury ultimately set up a trilogy rematch with Derek Chisora instead.
Speaking to the DAZN Boxing Show, Hearn told Tony Bellew that if there is an opportunity, he will contact Queensberry Promotions’ George Warren in the hope of getting Joshua his shot against the WBC champion.
He said: “If this fight doesn’t get made, I want to sit down with George Warren, and God willing AJ comes through against Jermaine Franklin, and makes it through that fight. AJ against Tyson Fury, why not?
“It’s financially a much bigger fight for Tyson Fury. It’s the biggest fight in world boxing by miles. If that fight doesn’t get made, I’ll be kicking and screaming for this.
“Sometimes things happen that let fights you never thought would happen, to happen. Maybe this is one of those moments.”
Joshua has recently relocated to the United States in preparation for his April 1 fight with Jermaine Franklin, shown globally on DAZN.
Discussing the move, Hearn stated: “He’s definitely worked hard. The one thing that struck me was the difference in surroundings. AJ, who’s trained most of his career at the Olympic Institute, then moved to Loughborough, was like a god, really.
“Not what he wanted, but he almost got his own way because people were prepared to say: ‘What are we doing, AJ?’
“Now you turn up, get beasted and then go home. His house, his surroundings, the gym, you couldn't get more humble in terms of surroundings compared to what he’s used to, and I think it’s what he needs in his life.
“There’s a lot of pressure on this fight. I’m nervous, I’m excited, and I’m just hoping he can put together the performance he deserves But the brutal thing about boxing is that you can do all the work and what matters is April 1, the O2 Arena, if he doesn’t put it together he could get beaten by Jermaine Franklin, And if he gets beaten by Jermaine Franklin, it’s a disaster. So I’m nervous but excited, but I really feel he’s just got to believe in himself.”