Anthony Joshua could be back in the ring in July under a proposed two-fight agreement tied to Riyadh Season, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

The former heavyweight champion has not fought since December, when he sealed a knockout win in his last outing. He has since resumed training and was ringside at the weekend to watch Tyson Fury secure a comeback win over Arslanbek Makhmudov.

Fury immediately renewed calls for a long-awaited clash with Joshua, a bout that has hovered over the division for years.

Hearn says plans are moving towards an interim fight in July, followed by a potential blockbuster meeting with Fury in November. While Deontay Wilder had been floated as a possible opponent after calling out Joshua following his win over Derek Chisora, the high-risk nature of that bout appears to have ruled it out.

“The deal that we have been offered to fight in July and then fight Tyson Fury in November is not with Deontay Wilder in mind,” Hearn told talkSPORT.

“The powers that be don’t really want us to be in that type of fight.

“This is an offer that has been made by Turki Alalshikh, Ring and Riyadh Season… and that looks like the route that we will take.

“If we were promoting the event, I would be going Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury.

“But this is a deal that has been put to us with the Fury fight as the mountaintop.

“We have no problem fighting Wilder, but I don’t think it will be Wilder under the basis of this deal.”