EDDIE HEARN held talks with Otto Wallin’s promoter over a fight for Anthony Joshua’s boxing return.
AJ and Hearn are plotting their next steps after the two-time heavyweight champion took some time away from the ring.
A rematch with Dillian Whyte has been mentioned while a super-fight with Deontay Wilder remains on the cards.
Whyte, 34, recently edged past American Jermaine Franklin, 29, in a disputed majority decision win.
Franklin’s promoter Dmitriy Salita took a trip to the UK as a chance to pitch his other client, Wallin, as an alternate option for AJ.
Salita told SunSport: “I had discussions with Eddie about Otto for a significant amount of time and as late as last week.
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“From what I understand it’s really up to AJ. I believe he wants to place himself back in the heavyweight picture.
“Both Otto and AJ want a shot at Fury. By the numbers Otto landed more punches on Fury then anyone else ever.
“I believe the winner of that fight will have legitimate claim to challenge Fury probably after his fight with Oleksandr Usyk.”
Wallin, 32, left Fury, 34, needing 47 stitches in their 2019 bloodbath in a bout that raised his profile.
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Joshua, 33, is expected to return in March and Hearn is in the process of matching him with an opponent.
But after Whyte’s unconvincing win over Franklin, ex-world champion Salita wants to see the pair rematch.
And it would free up Swedish southpaw Wallin to welcome Joshua back to the ring.
Salita said: “Whyte is 1-2 and in reality 1-3 in his last four fights.
Both Otto and AJ want a shot at Fury. By the numbers Otto landed more punches on Fury then anyone else ever.
Dmitriy Salita
“A fight with Joshua would be something like Roy Jones vs Mike Tyson or Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor, big names but not much behind it at this point.
“Even if it’s not against Jermaine, Whyte needs an impressive showing against someone credible to show that he still got the skills to pay the bills at an elite heavyweight level.
“Otto Wallin on the other hand gave Tyson Fury the hardest fight of his career, landing more punches then Wladimir Klitchko and Deontay Wilder 1 put together.
“He had four wins after that including Dominic Breazeale and Travis Kauffman, both credible at time of his victory.
“Otto is No3 in the WBO and is a bonafide top heavyweight in the world.
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“There have been lots of big names thrown around with Joshua including Tyson and Wilder.
“How serious that is will depend on who he fights next.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
