Thursday 11 May 2017 17:13, UK
Anthony Joshua's future plans rest in the hands of Wladimir Klitschko as he will make a final decision on whether a rematch is next, says promoter Eddie Hearn.
Joshua produced an epic heavyweight battle with Klitschko last month, with both men climbing up from the canvas before 'AJ' pulled off a stunning 11th-round stoppage win in front of a record 90,000 crowd at Wembley.
The IBF and WBA 'super' champion is still considering his options, which could include a mandatory IBF title defence against Kubrat Pulev, but a second fight with Klitschko is the preferred choice for Hearn.
"We have a mandatory challenger in Kubrat Pulev for the IBF. We have a situation with Wladimir Klitschko where we would like to make that fight again," Hearn told Sky Sports.
"Fans and broadcasters would like to do that fight again and Wladimir is currently on holiday for two weeks and he will make a decision on his return.
"If that's a fight that Wladimir wants, I feel like that will be next for Anthony Joshua."
Hearn is hopeful that Joshua can hold onto his two world titles, despite the likelihood of future fights with Pulev and WBA mandatory challenger Luis Ortiz, and will also pursue unification clashes with the other champions.
"Of course there are other big fights outside of his mandatories," said Hearn. "The two champions. Joseph Parker, we just saw him defend his world title, Deontay Wilder.
"We have got a six, eight, 10-year plan with Anthony Joshua, so people are talking about all these super fights now. We want them, but we have also got to realise there is a long way to go.
"We have to box off these mandatories and the aim is to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, to collect all those belts.
"To do it we are going to have to be very smart, we're going to have to do a lot of manoeuvring around and he is going to have to do a lot of winning in the ring."
The IBF expect to make a decision about Joshua's mandatory obligations by early next week.