Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, believes the month of February is realistic for a potential unification with WBC champion Tyson Fury.

They were initially targeting a date in August in Saudi Arabia - until an arbitrator ordered Fury to honor a rematch due to Deontay Wilder.

Joshua will now make a mandatory defense against Oleksandr Usyk on September 25.

Fury was initially scheduled to face Wilder in their trilogy fight on July 24. The 'Gypsy King' came down with COVID-19 and the fight was pushed back to October 9th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Before Fury's fight was pushed back, there was some talk of the full division unification being staged on a date in December.

Provided both world champions come away with victories in their respective fights and are injury free, Hearn explains that date in February is a lot more realistic.

“We wanted to do it in December. But I think with AJ fighting September 25, Fury now delayed until October, I think February is more realistic," Hearn told Talk Sport. 

“They had a huge offer from Saudi Arabia to do the fight there. Ultimately in the fight game, which is extremely dangerous and these guys are putting themselves on the line, it is about generating as much money for the fight as possible. 

“With fans back in the UK is that an option? Las Vegas? We’ll see. But first things first, let’s just beat Usyk, because if that doesn’t go to plan, we can forget about it.”