It’s unclear yet who Anthony Joshua will face next after his victory over Wladimir Klitschko last Saturday.
The IBF, WBA (Super) and IBO heavyweight champion called out Tyson Fury after his win, with Fury accepting his challenge by writing on Twitter: “Let’s dance.”
Fury, who hasn’t fought since 2015, is currently in Marbella as he continues to prepare for his boxing comeback.
And AJ’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, excited fans by admitting a fight between the two unbeaten heavyweights could be less than a year away.
"Believe me when I say that there is nothing that 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," Hearn wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
"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. Those have to be sorted before we can make anything happen.
"If they do get sorted, then it is a huge option for us in the short to mid-term future. We all know that AJ would love that fight.
"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 and everything falling into place for Fury. If it does, that will be another incredible night for an incredible fighter.
"Rest assured, if we can make it happen, we will make it happen. One thing I can promise you is that this young man has changed the face of boxing and I for one cannot wait for the future.”
Fury has watched AJ become a hit
Fury endured a torrid 2016 and would surely need a fight before taking on Joshua. But it certainly has the potential to be an enthralling, all-British encounter.
Fury, who defeated Klitschko in 2015, has had to sit and watch an entire nation get excited about Joshua. As a result, he probably has a chip on his shoulder.
The situation now is in stark contract to what it was in 2013, when Fury gave advice to Joshua while he was about to embark on his mission to superstardom.
Fury gave Joshua advice in 2013
Joshua turned professional in 2013; Fury five years earlier. And this is what Fury said to the then-rookie:
“Just listen to yourself. Don’t listen to anybody else - not one person because God forbid anything went wrong you can’t blame other people and start pointing the finger.
“Always know that you’re only to blame yourself because you made that decision and whatever you do in life, never regret it.
“Never if, buts, shoulda, woulda, coulda, give everything while you can, when you can, and leave nothing to behind.”
How things might have turned out differently had Fury listened to his own advice.