Anthony Joshua still wants to fight Tyson Fury but is open to alternative options after the Gypsy King announced his retirement on Monday, it has been claimed.
Fury sent shockwaves around the world when he announced he would be quitting the sport, just weeks after his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
Fans have long hoped to see the 36-year-old face Joshua but, as things stand, that appears unlikely to happen.
Eddie Hearn, speaking to Seconds Out, has revealed that AJ is still hopeful of engaging his fellow Briton in battle.
Anthony Joshua still wants to fight Tyson Fury but is open to alternative options after the Gypsy King announced his retirement on Monday
PA
But the boxing promoter also revealed that alternative opponents are being considered if Fury, who has retired before, really is done with boxing.
"I think Fury has been in some big fights, I don't think he's afraid of Joshua," said the 45-year-old.
"He's coming off two defeats, I should think he's very down at the moment, AJ was very down after getting beat.
"I haven't spoken to AJ about it yet. We've heard it before. We're not going to start gossiping about it, we can't control it.
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"So we'll go back into training camp and [Fury] will either come out of retirement and fight AJ in the summer, or he won't.
"We're going to fight again whatever happens. It's not like if Fury retires and we don't get Dubois we're retiring. AJ wants to fight, he's still in love with the sport.
"The fights that really get Joshua up for it are Fury and the winner of Dubois vs Parker, but it doesn't mean he won't get up for the other fights.
"When [Martin] Bakole called him out the other day, that was kind of good for AJ. He would be up for fighting Bakole, he's up for fighting anyone.
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"But we have to look at the really big fights for him, we don't want him going out and fighting a really tough fight for no commercial benefits. I wouldn't be doing my job.
"Bakole in Africa, Dillian Whyte in London, [Deontay] Wilder in America, the winner of [Agit] Kabayel against [Zhilei] Zhang [are options]."
Joshua's last fight was back in September.
The Watford-born star struggled against Daniel Dubois and ended up losing via knockout.
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Anthony Joshua could face alternative opponents if Tyson Fury stays retired, according to Eddie Hearn
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As for Fury, he appears to have quit boxing just weeks after losing to Usyk for a second time.
The Briton performed well at the Kingdom Arena but lost via unanimous decision, much to his dismay.
Fury was visibly angry when the result was read out and stormed from the ring, with wife Paris Fury accompanying him.
He had previously entered 2024 unbeaten as a professional.
Anthony Joshua was knocked out by Daniel Dubois in the fifth round of their boxing match back in September
REUTERSYet Usyk beat Fury twice last year, with his first victory coming back in May.
Whether the British boxing legend stays retired, or performs a U-turn in order to face Joshua, remains to be seen.
