Anthony Joshua has vowed to win back his world titles from Oleksandr Usyk, despite being open to stepping aside for Tyson Fury - but all is not as it seems.
Negotiations are underway for Fury to take on Usyk for all four heavyweight titles in the Middle East.
That would see Joshua - who is due to face Usyk - and Dillian Whyte - who is due to face Fury - stepping aside and being compensated accordingly.
But quotes surfaced yesterday appearing to contradict that stance, with Joshua insisting he would be facing Usyk next.
But the interview with Stuff magazine was carried out last month, before promoter Eddie Hearn admitted this week that a deal could be struck.
"I’ve come up short twice," Joshua said in the interview. "But the majority of times I have overcome many obstacles.
"Next fight I’m going to beat him [Usyk] and I’m going to take those belts from him.
"And I’m going to reign again to become three-time heavyweight champion of the world… whether people like it or not."
Joshua also discussed his plans to work with a new trainer, likely splitting with long-time head coach Rob McCracken for his next outing.
McCracken guided Joshua to his two unified heavyweight title runs, as well as his gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics before turning professional.
But he has been sampling other trainers in the lead-up to his return to the ring, knowing that a second consecutive loss would likely be a massive hit to his career at the top of the division.
"As I only fight once or twice a year, I have to stay busy and active in the gyms," Joshua said.
"But because I took a loss in my last fight, there’s been a lot of reconstruction happening in my team.
"So I’ve approached training with more of a mental approach, looking at ways I can improve rather than just jumping back in the deep end from a physical point of view."
Do you think Anthony Joshua will take a step aside deal, or insist on his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Joshua has a contractual claim to a rematch with Usyk and with Fury also mandated to defend his WBC title against Whyte, there is a logistical issue to the step-aside offer that would need to be made to allow the undisputed fight.
"There are substantial amount of money available," Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn told Mirror Fighting yesterday. "And there are people who want to try and make this route happen.
"But it's not just about the money, it's about the plan - AJ doesn't want someone to come and give him money and saying 'right, see you later mate'.
"He wants to know what the actual plan is, and that's the same with Dillian Whyte, he's been waiting a long time and if he has to wait a couple of more months that's ok but how does it work?
"Right now, I still think the favourite is the two fights, but we'll see what happens."
