We will have to wait at least a year to see the realisation of what would arguably be the biggest British fight of all time.
Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury is the fight that everyone wants to see after 'AJ' solidified his status as one of the world's top heavyweights with his stunning stoppage victory over Wladimir Klitschko last weekend.
The meeting of the two best heavyweights in Britain, who could not be any more different from one another, is
the money fight but we're not going to see it in 2017 unfortunately.
Shortly after Joshua's hand was raised in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, promoter Eddie Hearn insisted that Fury would not be next up for the London 2012 gold medallist.
Fury's fitness issues, coupled with the fact that he doesn't currently hold a boxing licence, has understandably led Hearn to pump the brakes on the hype surrounding Joshua vs. Fury and the hope that it might take place before the year is out.
Hearn has suggested that we can expect to see 'AJ' back in action in October/November but it most certainly won't be opposite his fellow undefeated Brit.
Joshua will most likely be taking on either WBC champion Deontay Wilder or WBO champ Joseph Parker, or one of the mandatory challengers for his current belts, Luis Ortiz and Kubrat Pulev.
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In the meantime, Fury is on the road to redemption as he steps up his fitness battle in Marbella.
And while he won't be next on the agenda for Joshua, Hearn has since given a potential date and venue for the clash which would see two undefeated professional records on the line.
"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 Daily Mail column.
"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," he continued, "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. "
