Wednesday 13 April 2016 09:25, UK
David Haye is targeting a British battle with Anthony Joshua next year and believes he will secure a fight with the new IBF champion before Tyson Fury.
Joshua claimed the IBF heavyweight belt with a second round stoppage of Charles Martin on Saturday night and promoter Eddie Hearn says a world title unification clash with WBA and WBO champion Fury could be staged in 2016 or next year.
But Haye is also eager to face Joshua and has suggested that he is a more likely opponent than Fury, who could be ordered to make more title defences after his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko on July 9.
Haye told Sky Sports News HQ: "Eddie Hearn is quite bang on. He's talking quite possibly next year and looking at the time frame, I've got two fights signed up - this May 21st fight, and then a fight later on in the year with Shannon Briggs.
"There has been big talk of Anthony Joshua having two defences and then looking at that big year of unification or a mega fight.
"Obviously Tyson Fury would be the other guy that Joshua would be after, but look at the realistic side of boxing. Tyson Fury has a July 9 fight with Wladimir Klitschko, which is a tough fight, and although he's won once, it's going to be a tough fight.
"And also he's in this WBA tournament, where the winner of Klitschko and Fury has to face Luis Ortiz, the unbeaten Cuban."
Haye returns to the ring against Arnold Gjergjaj next month and hopes to remain on course for a fight against Joshua, which he feels would attract huge public interest.
Referring to Joshua, Haye said: "He's got a bit of business to take care of. On my side, I've got two fights to take care of. On his side, he's got two fights to take care of.
"If we both win our next two fights then I see possibly - two or three fights down the line - we could clash in what could be the biggest all-British fight of all time."
