Plans were blown up in smoke after Fury’s horror eye injury

ANTHONY JOSHUA faces a long wait to fight Tyson Fury after being lined up with a different opponent.

Joshua returns on March 8 in Saudi Arabia, against ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou.

Anthony Joshua returns against Francis Ngannou.

Tyson Fury was forced to pull out against Oleksandr Usyk.

The winner was being primed to then fight either Fury or Oleksandr Usyk, who were set to collide three weeks earlier.

However, Fury was forced to pull out with a horror cut suffered in sparring that required 11 stitches.

A rescheduled date has now been set for May 18, with the pair also contracted to a rematch.

That would mean a far longer wait for AJ, 34.

So, if the Brit beats Ngannou, he could instead face Filip Hrgovic, who is the current IBF mandatory challenger for Usyk’s belt.

Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh said on The MMA Hour: “I’ll tell you what is in my mind. If Ngannou win then he will have a rematch against the champion.

“If Joshua win and the way of the winner of Tyson/Usyk, it will be long time because they will have rematch.

“We are thinking and discussing with Joshua camp and Hrgovic camp to maybe have a fight between them. ‌

“I guarantee Usyk and he has my word, of two more big fights.”

Fury, 35, and Usyk, 37, confirmed in a joint interview that they had agreed to the rearranged date.

And both face handing over £10MILLION of their own cash if either are to pullout within the next three months.

Alalshikh revealed if Usyk is to withdraw, Joshua will be given the chance to replace him and fight Fury.

But if lightening strikes twice and again Fury is forced out, then Usyk will get to choose a replacement opponent.