ANTHONY JOSHUA is unlikely to face Deontay Wilder in a grudge match in the spring as he could soon be working with a new coaching team.
A long-awaited showdown between the pair has been mooted following Wilder’s return to the win column in October.
But with a potential change of coaching team seemingly imminent, promoter Eddie Hearn believes the spring will be too early for the pair to settle their differences.
He told iD Boxing: “I think it’s quite unlikely that you’re going to see that fight in March, in all honesty.
“But again, I know AJ would go straight into that fight.
“He was willing to go straight into the Tyson Fury fight, he was willing to fight Dillian Whyte.
“But he’s also going to be listening to going to be listening to and taking the advice and input of potentially a new training team.
“And they will want time to work with Anthony Joshua.”
Joshua, 33, enlisted the help of Robert Garcia for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in August, although the renowned American was unable to guide him to victory in the Saudi showdown.
And Hearn believes the new man in charge will want a good chunk of time working with Joshua before he returns to the ring.
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He continued: “He brought a new trainer in and then ended up fighting Usyk again straight off the bat.
“So I think the trainer will always be more sensible than the fighter.”
Former four-weight world champ Roy Jones Jr recently claimed he’d be teaming up with Joshua, although his appointment to the team has yet to be confirmed.
Joshua is currently targeting a March return to the ring but is refusing to commit to a specific date for his next outing.
He told DAZN last month: “I don’t know [when I’ll be back].
“I was supposed to be in the ring this year, I’m going to be in the ring next year. I’ll be in the ring when I’m in the ring.
“I don’t want to make statements today and then I’ll get held to the cross.
“Do you know what I mean? When I’m ready, I’ll be back in the ring.”
