Anthony Joshua after beating Otto WallinCredit: AFP

Tyson Fury could be lined up to finally fight AJCredit: Getty

Meanwhile Joshua is set to return in March against ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou.

Hearn is pushing for Fury to beat Usyk so that AJ can finally commence a Battle of Britain with him afterwards.

He told Boxing Social: “I just want to fight Tyson Fury. I just think in that performance, in that mood, I think he beats him all day long.

“But hopefully Tyson can beat Usyk and we’ll be one step closer to that.”

Hearn was speaking after Joshua, 34, stopped Otto Wallin, 32, in five rounds in Saudi Arabia.

On the undercard, Deontay Wilder, 38, suffered a shock defeat to Joseph Parker, 31, which scuppered his £100million fight deal with AJ.

So Hearn had to look elsewhere for a blockbuster replacement and landed on Ngannou, 37, who dropped Fury, 35, in October.

Despite the knockdown, Fury escaped with a controversial decision to keep his historic unification with Usyk, 36, alive.

The deal is believed to include a rematch clause, meaning the victor could lose the IBF belt afterwards as Filip Hrgovic, 31, is in line to challenge.

Hearn wanted Joshua to fight Hrgovic for the vacant belt once Fury and Usyk rematch.

But until the belt become fragmented, AJ will instead face Ngannou.

Francis Ngannou dropped Fury despite losing on pointsCredit: Getty