ANTHONY JOSHUA’s eagerly-anticipated rematch with Oleksandr Usyk will likely take place in late March.
The former unified heavyweight champion exercised a rematch clause two weeks after being dethroned by the slick southpaw in September.
SunSport understands the pair’s second meeting is being targeted for the spring, with promoter Eddie Hearn hopeful of staging AJ’s make-or-break bout by ‘early April’ at the latest.
During an appearance on talkSPORT, the Matchroom Boxing chief said: “I think [the rematch] will be realistically end of March, early April.
“Both guys are probably resting, although AJ will be doing a bit more preparation because he wants to get it right.
“There was a well-documented trip to America, just to look really, look, learn and see.
“I think he will go back out there towards the end of the year.
“We will start talking to Team Usyk over the next couple of weeks and pin down the venue.”
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The undefeated Usyk is hoping to make his first defence of the unified belts in his homeland of Ukraine.
Hearn isn’t against the idea of taking the fight abroad, although he’d prefer it to take place in the UK.
He added: “I would like it back in the UK. There are other options.
“We have had approaches to stage that fight around the world.
“But last time out was a massive spectacle and, obviously, this time is a much bigger fight.”
A lucrative offer to stage the fight in the Middle East is also on the table.
Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports: “We have three options: the United Kingdom, Ukraine and the Middle East.
“We plan to meet with Eddie Hearn within the next couple of weeks to initiate the rematch activities.”
Both parties are hoping to thrash out a deal by the end of the year.
Krassuyk said: “Hopefully by the end of 2021, we will be in the position to take the final decision.”
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