Usyk has already beaten ‘AJ’ twice as he won the Brit’s unified heavyweight belts in 2021 and defended them against him the following year. Fury has been linked to a fight against his domestic rival for almost a decade but former two-weight world champion Antonio Tarver thinks Joshua has no business facing Fury if he becomes undisputed.

“I think if Fury beats Usyk, he don’t got no reason to fight AJ. There’s no need,” Tarver said. Joshua is unbeaten in three fights since failing to win his belts back against Usyk and he partnered up with Fury’s old trainer Ben Davison for his stoppage win against Otto Wallin last month.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is confident his man can get past Ngannou to challenge and beat Fury for the undisputed belts. The closest Fury and Joshua came to fighting was when they both signed a contract three years ago, but the fight was cancelled when Fury was ruled to fight Deontay Wilder for the third time.

“I said before the Wallin fight that he is going to beat Wallin, beat [Deontay] Wilder and beat Fury. The only thing that’s going to change is Ngannou replaces Wilder. I truly believe AJ will become undisputed heavyweight champion. I love Usyk but part of me wants Tyson to win that fight so we can potentially move,” Hearn said on The MMA Hour.

“Criticism is out there all the time but he is in a great place, he is really confident. Even now with Ben Davison, they like the Usyk fight now. Ben really believe that AJ can beat Usyk. I truly believe AJ will become undisputed heavyweight champion. Only with that last performance do people start thinking.”