Eddie Hearn, promoter for former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, explains that his fighter is now very motivated to involve himself in major fights in 2024. In April, he secured a twelve round unanimous decision over Jermaine Franklin. Then in August, he knocked out late-replacement Robert Helenius. The third appearance of the year took place last month in Saudi Arabia, where Joshua took down Otto Wallin in five rounds. On February 17th in Saudi Arabia, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will collide in a high-stakes undisputed clash for the WBC, IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO world titles.Joshua, who suffered two decision losses to Usyk, would love to get his hands on the winner. The British star is being positioned to return to the ring on a date in March, back in Saudi Arabia. Three names have been mentioned by Hearn - Filip Hrgovic, Zhilei Zhang and Francis Ngannou.

Hearn said. “These are all great heavyweights. Andy Ruiz, Frank Sanchez, Joseph Parker, but really the only thing that AJ wants to do is be in massive fights, win the world heavyweight title, and fight Tyson Fury or get another crack at Usyk. That’s what [Joshua trainer] Ben [Davison] wants, Ben wants another crack at Usyk. “For me, obviously, I’d love the Fury fight. When you look at fighting March, fighting in September, maybe two fights against the Fury-Usyk winner, you’re talking four or five fights down the line, that may be it. He looked amazing last week, but five fights is another year and a half, maybe two years, so how much longer are you going to go? Right now, we’re really excited for that 2024.”

WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is fully confident in his ability to defeat WBC king Tyson Fury, when the two unbeaten beltholders collide on February 17 in Saudi Arabia. Usyk has faith that his skills will overcome Fury's advantage in size. "Firstly, it's not 'if' I win but 'when' I win," Usyk said to Sky Sports."When I go to sleep I imagine myself boxing, then my hand raised high. I simply believe that I can win."

Fury has been verbally blasting Usyk in the last few months, but the Ukrainian boxer believes the mind games have backfired on the 'Gypsy King.'

"I got into his head and now instead of me, he thinks about a rabbit. Keep thinking, brother," Usyk said. "I have listened to Eminem for many years, his mum used to call him a white rabbit. I don't know, I like this rapper. Tony Bellew once said that I am a beast in boxing, I said: 'Not really, I'm just a white rabbit.'

Usyk is coming back from a knockout victory over mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois, which took place in Poland back in August. Fury took part in a non-title crossover boxing match back in October, in Saudi Arabia, against former UFC champion Francis Ngannou. While the fight was widely viewed as a complete mismatch on paper, Ngannou shocked the oddsmakers when he dropped Fury in the third and gave him issues throughout their ten round bout. Fury was able to secure a close split decision win.