Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes that the British Nigerian needs another fight before facing the heavyweight division’s elite of Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder or Oleksandr Usyk.

The two-time world heavyweight champion returned to winning ways against Jermaine Franklin on April 1, but analysts felt another fight under new coach, Derrick James, would be smart before he goes for the top-rated boxers.

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Despite this, Joshua announced that he wouldn’t be fighting in July as planned, instead signing straight up for a bout in December.

It’s certainly not a decision made from a tactical point of view, as Hearn told DAZN that Joshua needed to step up to the plate slowly.

“You’re better off being honest and saying look, this is where we’re at. I need him to have another fight with a level slightly above Jermaine Franklin to gel with Derrick James, hopefully, go in there with a little bit more confidence to prepare him for Fury or Wilder in December.”

There’s speculation as to why this decision has been made, although Hearn did say that it wasn’t finalised and that includes trainer commitments, injury or the promise of a big-money bout being too good to risk injury or defeat.

“We’re not ruling that out (Fury and Wilder). We’ll look at those. If a big offer comes in or a big site comes in, unlikely in July but I just really want to see momentum,” he told DAZN.

Whether or not the big site offer has come in for the winter remains to be seen, but it’s hard to believe given the current situation of the heavyweight division.