Eddie Hearn has admitted a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua 'looks like it is close' after years of intense speculation.
Fury is currently focused on his bout with Oleksandr Usyk on May 18, while Joshua is gearing up to face Francis Ngannou on March 8.
If both men win their respective fights, there's a possibility Fury and Joshua will finally go up against each other.
And Hearn, per Sky Sports, has claimed a fight looks like it is 'close' to happening - but has warned 'everyone's got a job to do first'.
Boxing news: Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fight 'looks like it is close' according to Eddie Hearn
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"It's going to be interesting," he said.
"Obviously, a lot's got to happen, AJ's got to beat Ngannou and Fury's got to beat Usyk.
"One of the reasons that we took the Ngannou fight is because we knew it could take us there quicker because of the vision out there.
"It does look like it [Fury vs Joshua] is close but everyone's got a job to do first.
"We signed for Joshua against [Deontay] Wilder and we were an hour away from announcing it in the ring and then Joseph Parker goes and beats him. So anything can happen."
Hearn also believes a fight between Fury and Joshua could even take place by the end of the year.
He stated: "If there's a chance to jump in late summer or early autumn and make AJ vs Fury, it can be done and there's ways to make it happen.
"I think there's every chance that could happen.
"[With] contracts, everyone's got to be respected in that sense.
"But the pressure will be on to make that fight."
Joshua is the strong favourite to beat Ngannou given his years of boxing experience.
Ngannou only fought for the first time against Fury in October, pushing the Gypsy King all the way before losing via split decision.
Some have criticised Joshua for taking the fight with the 37-year-old as a result.
And Hearn admits AJ will likely be too strong for Ngannou, adding: "You've got two immovable objects, two massive men and Ngannou is huge.
"AJ should be much too good for him but this is the heavyweight division and it's a very dangerous test.
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"All that matters is March 8 for us, because anything can happen in that fight.
"For me this is a performance that has to encompass discipline and brutality."
Joshua was written off as a faded force less than a year ago.
After victories over Otto Wallin, Robert Helenius and Jermaine Franklin Jnr, however, he's now a man on the up again.
And Hearn is delighted at the progress the 34-year-old has made following his two previous defeats to Usyk.
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"In the changing room before the Wallin fight when he was hitting pads with Ben [Davison, in a new training partnership], I've never seen anything like it and I've never seen him like it," Hearn said.
"The noise every time he hit the pads was like a cannon going off.
"I can't believe the turnaround just in confidence, in sharpness, in power and belief.
"If AJ understands the game and he believes, he is unbeatable in there and we're moving towards that."
