Anthony Joshua lined up to fight Oleksandr Usyk in near future as champ poses with pals on break in New York
Cruiserweight champ looking to make the move up to heavyweight and has targeted blockbuster clash with Britain's world champion
OLEKSANDR USYK is being lined up for a clash with Anthony Joshua in the near future - but it is unlikely to be the world heavyweight champion's next fight.
Brilliant undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk is ready to make the move up to the top division having seen off all-comers at his current weight.
And in his sights is a blockbuster bout with four-belt champion Joshua as he looks to conquer the world.
Joshua, currently enjoying a break in New York with friends, is still looking for a new opponent to defend his crown against in April at Wembley Stadium.
But though his promoter Eddie Hearn admits there is interest in a potential fight with Tony Bellew-conquerer Usyk, he doubts if it will be the next fight up for Joshua.
Instead he is trying to push Deontay Wilder into agreeing a unification fight - although the American WBC champion now has a rematch with Tyson Fury as another lucrative option.
Hearn said: "Anthony Joshua has 75 per cent of the belts, but we want that 25 per cent."
And on Usyk, Hearn told : "I saw reports saying that the Joshua fight was done. Certainly not.
"There's not even been one conversation about that fight, other than they want it in the future.
"But if he's going to move to heavyweight, there's nothing concrete yet."
Usyk and his promotion team will meet with Hearn next week when he travels to the UK to watch Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora clash.
It is then that the promoter believes talks will begin in earnest about the prospect of a future meeting of Usyk and Joshua.
He added: "He's going to need a good rest because he boxed so many times last year. He hardly had any rest between big fights, so I don't think he'll be ready until April or May.
more boxing news
"I would think he'll want one or two fights before he fights Joshua.
"But if he would take that fight straight away, and Whyte or Chisora are not available, and we can't make Wilder or Fury, I don't know.
"But Joshua vs Usyk is not something we're actually looking at, at the moment."