EDDIE HEARN has revealed Anthony Joshua will prioritise a rematch against Dillian Whyte for the WBC title if Tyson Fury is stripped of his belt.
The Matchroom promoter revealed earlier in the week how the WBA, WBO and IBF king is keen to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999.
And Hearn has once again stressed how AJ will press ahead to fight WBC mandatory Whyte should Fury refuse to face the Body Snatcher.
The winner of Saturday’s showdown between Whyte and Alexander Povetkin are mandated to fight the victor of Fury’s trilogy against Deontay Wilder.
But Hearn has stated that Fury‘s team aren’t keen on a domestic dust-up with Whyte, which could jeopardise a blockbuster bout between the Gypsy King and AJ.
Speaking to iFL TV, he said: “People said from Fury’s team, ‘We are not fighting Dillian Whyte.
“So I said, ‘If you don’t fight Dillian Whyte, you’re going to be stripped of your world title.’
“And then I said, by the way, Anthony Joshua wants to win the WBC world title because he wants to win all the belts. He wants to be undisputed.’
“So if Tyson Fury vacates the belt, then AJ can’t win the WBC belt. So, therefore, he’ll fight Dillian Whyte for the WBC belt.”
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Before adding: “If Anthony Joshua wants to fight Tyson Fury, it can’t even be for the undisputed until he’s boxed Dillian Whyte.
“It’s never been about Fury. He wanted to fight Wilder since he had the WBC title.
“As soon as Fury beat him, Joshua wanted to fight Fury. By the way, he still wants to fight Fury belt or no belt, but that’s his decision.”
Whyte has been vocal in his desire to face Fury, as he claimed his rival is scared of facing him.
He told Sky Sports: “He said he was a fighting man. Before he won the belt, he said he was going to fight me. He just talks rubbish. He said he was going to do this to me, do that to me.
“‘When I beat Deontay Wilder, I’m going to give Dillian the first shot at the belt, because he deserves it, he’s waited so long and he’s worked so hard.’
“After he wins the fight, he talks about fighting Derek Chisora. He’s a joker. The WBC have obviously come forward and said you have to fight me now, so let’s see what he’s going to do.
“He’s tried everything to avoid me. Even without waiting for the outcome of my fight with Povetkin, he’s so scared about the prospect of fighting me that his promoter begged the WBC to elevate him to ‘Franchise’ champion to keep him out of my clutches.
“Mauricio has said publicly that that ain’t happening. All going well, he’ll be all mine, but I fully expect him to run, run and run, just like that coward Wilder before him.”
