EDDIE HEARN claims that Tyson Fury has withdrawn from fighting Oleksandr Uzyk for the undisputed title.
Usyk has been contracted to a rematch against AJ. He beat the British star in September for the WBA and IBF belts.
Anthony Joshua, Eddie Hearn, and Oleksandr Usyk
Middle Eastern backers led talks for the Ukrainian to face WBC champion Fury instead in an historic four-belt unification.
To make that happen, AJ mandatory challenger Dillian Youte and WBC mandatory challenger AJ would have to be paid a fee sit-out.
Hearn said they were open to hearing offers from Joshua but needed to be sure that Fury would fight Usyk.
The promoter claimed that Usyk was not interested in fighting the Gypsy King and instead will face Whyte, the No1 contender.
Hearn stated to iFL TV that the reality is that we are open to a long-form agreement and a plan for AJ.
"But we are not at that stage. Tyson Fury was able to discuss the topic - Fury does not want to fight Usyk in my opinion.
"Because he was able to do it through these conversations and really, when it came to it, it was really down to it, it was really not something he wanted to.
"Fury would like to have a March one, and that's all he wants.
"Now, he will have to fight DillianWhyte. And by the way, after all this kerfuffle he'll be beat by DillianWhyte. He'll get knocked unconscious by DillianWhyte.
"But, the truth is, when it came down to it it, he never wanted Oleksandr Usyk to fight him."
"Because he could have gone straight into Oleksandr Uzyk's fight, but he didn’t want to fight Oleksandr Uzyk.
"But that's not what you'll ever hear, and that's exactly what the public will never hear." Fury will only be heard on Instagram screaming and shouting using smoking mirrors.
Although talks between Fury, Usyk are progressing, the WBC has set Friday as the deadline to agree on a fight against Whyte.
The WBC will accept purse bids from anyone interested in the mandatory title fight if Fury does not agree to fight Usyk or Whyte.
Hearn stated that he was confident there would be a bid for Fury against Whyte tomorrow. That's what I think will happen next.
According to the promoter, Fury and Usyk are still in talks. He is open to a deal which would allow AJ, to step aside and fight the winner.
Fury was again accused of avoiding the difficult Usyk for all the belts.
He stated that he didn't think it was off the table, as people are still discussing it. This is not a deal I have necessarily made.
"CHANGES HIS MIND EVERYDAY"
"We have been approached with a plan, and I believe I would be open to a long-form agreement to examine some type of plan that would allow AJ to fight Fury or Usyk for the best heavyweight in world' tag.
"But the truth is that Tyson Fury's decided that he doesn’t want to fight Usyk next.
"Whether he says it or not, the truth is out there. He wasn't willing to fight Oleksandr Uzyk for undisputed.
"Because of his desire to fight Dillian Whyte in March, he now wants to fight him." He is always changing his mind."
Hearn will now be expected to compete against Fury's promotional teams of Bob Arum, Frank Warren and Frank Warren in order to stage the fight with Whyte.
AJ will now rematch Usyk with the chance of restoring the belts he lost to London.
