They say a boxer should never look beyond his next fight, but it must be hard for Anthony Joshua not to get carried away with talk over his future.

On March 31, the 28-year-old will face Joseph Parker and bid to unify the heavyweight division by adding the WBO belt to his collection.

Amid the anticipation for that meeting in Cardiff, there is also serious talk of Joshua making a move into MMA.

Since Conor McGregor boxed Floyd Mayweather last year, a precedent has been set for fighters to swap sports.

Of course, there have been continuous suggestions that the Money will step into the Notorious' playground for a rematch, but the rumours have also engulfed others - including AJ.

The Telegraph were the first to come out with the news that Eddie Hearn's Matchroom promoting company could align with UFC in a combined effort behind Joshua in the USA.

Swapping disciplines didn't work out too well for McGregor - other than financially - yet it would certainly be intriguing to see how Joshua fared in the Octagon.

And should he link up with UFC president Dana White, he already has the promise of one fight.

Dillian Whyte wants to go again with his old opponent, providing he beats Lucas Browne this weekend, and he is happy to fight him under the banner of the UFC if necessary.

Whyte's promise to AJ

"If Dana Whites signs him, I'll fight him in the cage!" Whyte told Sky Sports.

"Me and him [Joshua] are linked career-wise. I'd fight two, three times win, lose or draw. We have animosity and we bring something special out of each other."

Interestingly, Joshua has already had his say on Whyte vs Browne, telling Sky Sports he hopes it is the former who emerges victorious:

Joshua is rooting for Whyte 

"I like Browne as a person but I'm rooting for Dillian. I want to see him victorious.

"[Whyte] can move onto great things in his career. We had a good dust-up, he had a great dust-up with [Dereck] Chisora which was a world-class heavyweight fight.

"He wants a shot at a championship belt and has been calling out Deontay Wilder.

"He wants to become a heavyweight champion so when we meet again it is massive. It's a fight he wants again, and something I would be interested in."

In all likelihood, that's going to be in the ring, but Whyte is proving he is willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.

Would you like to see Joshua vs Whyte in the Octagon? Let us know in the comments.