The British fighters have both had spells as world champion but have never been in the ring with each other during their storied careers and the Matchroom promoter argues that the sport has a "duty" to make the fight happen before the pair hang up their gloves.

Hearn told Sky Sports: "Joshua against Tyson Fury in early 2025 is the fight we have a responsibility to deliver and we don't walk away from our responsibilities."

The promoter is hopeful that the bout can happen next year but admits it would be easier to make should Joshua beat Daniel Dubois next month and if Fury wins his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in December.

He said: "We need to do that fight. I think personally that Usyk beats Fury in the rematch. It's easier to make if Fury beats Usyk, because then if Joshua has beaten Dubois then you've got the unification fight because Joshua will hold the IBF belt."

Hearn insists that Joshua v Fury is still the sport's biggest fight despite Usyk becoming the first undisputed heavyweight world champion for 25 years after defeating The Gypsy King in May.

He said: "Usyk is a top-class world champion as a boxer, but doesn't have the commercial appeal of Tyson Fury. So whatever happens in Fury-Usyk still assuming that AJ has won – and we mustn't get carried away with that, it's not a foregone conclusion – assuming that AJ is victorious in that fight, there is no bigger fight in the world still than Fury and AJ.

"It's the one the world's waiting for. There isn't a venue big enough to stage the number of people that would like to attend that. It will be colossal."