ANTHONY JOSHUA is being lined up to fight Oleksandr Usyk in August if Tyson Fury cannot agree a step aside deal with Deontay Wilder.
Joshua and Fury were all-but ready to put every heavyweight belt on the line on August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
But that was until the news broke a US judge ruled in favour of Wilder in arbitration, meaning Fury owes the American a third fight in their series.
Eddie Hearn, a driving force in securing a deal for the all-British unification, hopes the historic clash can still be saved.
But he admitted it is out of his hands and is lining up a backup option in Usyk, 34, who is currently Joshua’s WBO mandatory challenger.
According to The Athletic, talks are underway for AJ to face Usyk on either August 21 or 28 should Fury chose to fight Wilder.
Hearn has given Fury’s side until the end of the week to make a decision on their next fight before progressing talks with Usyk.
He said on Matchroom Boxing‘s YouTube channel: “I have been focusing on Plan A. The only fight we had our mind on was Tyson Fury.
“We hope that that fight can still take place on August 14th.
“The game changed last night where we have to have a plan B in place, and probably a plan C as well.
“We have a couple of different options; of course, the one that springs to mind immediately is the WBO mandatory of Oleksandr Usyk.
“They have been quite patient and I think really, we are in a situation where if Team Fury don’t get themselves together, get their act together, by the end of this week, we will have no option but to look for an alternative fight.”
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