Wednesday 5 October 2016 20:59, UK
Eddie Hearn says the chances of Anthony Joshua fighting Wladimir Klitschko this year are increasing.
With Klitschko's rematch against Tyson Fury for the WBA 'Super', WBO and IBO versions of the title called off for the second time, unbeaten IBF champion Joshua is keen to step in against the Ukrainian.
His promoter Hearn is working towards a date of November 26 for the two to meet, although he concedes it could happen in December instead.
Hearn had previously said the likelihood of the fight happening had been 60-40 but said: "I'll give you another 10 per cent now. I'll move it to 70-30.
"I was with Anthony yesterday and it's definitely the fight he wants next. People say 'shouldn't that wait until the summer, shouldn't it be a stadium fight?'
"You can't work like that in boxing. When an opportunity strikes, you have to take it and I feel this is the right opportunity now.
"Fights like this - although they sell out in minutes - deserve a big lead-up time. They deserve a big build up. There is an opportunity to push the fight into December which we're looking at as well."
Joshua won the IBF belt - stripped from Fury shortly after he dethroned Klitschko - against American Charles Martin in April before a successful first defence against Dominic Breazeale in June, with both fights taking place at London's O2 Arena.
Klitschko had been due to take on Fury again following his defeat to him last year but the Brit has been declared 'medically unfit' and his licence will be discussed by the British Boxing Board of Control next week.
The WBA and WBO are yet to reach decisions as to whether Fury will be stripped of his titles and Hearn will state his case for those championships to be on the line alongside the IBF belt should Joshua vs Klitschko be agreed.
