AJ, 35, has been out of action after he sustained an elbow injury during his match with Daniel Dubois, 28, in September 2024, and as Joshua looks to make his return to the ring, Hearn has stressed the former heavyweight champion is determined to face The Gypsy King, 37.
Speaking with Sky Sports, the Matchroom Boxing promoter said: “It's exactly what everybody wanted to hear. The thing that AJ wants more than anything, is to fight Tyson Fury.
“That is the biggest fight in the sport ... I'm hopeful. The only thing that is close to that level [for Joshua] is to win the world heavyweight championship again, which is a big motivation for him.”
Hearn added the potential Fury fight would take place next summer, and after Joshua has had one or two more fights under his belt.
The promoter teased there was a “small chance” AJ could step in the ring before the end of the year, before fighting again in early 2026.
Hearn explained: “The plan's very important. The most important thing is making sure he's 110 per cent confident and ready to beat Tyson Fury.
“We need to be able to plan that for AJ to make sure that he's in the best place possible for what will be the biggest moment of his career, I believe.
“If he fights this year, that will be a pure run out. It won't be a top 15 guy. He’s either going to have those two fights before Tyson Fury, if that can get made, or he's going to have the one fight in February.
“We haven't really decided yet but he's keen to get active.”
Hearn said Fury - who hasn’t stepped in the ring since he was defeated by Oleksandr Usyk, 38, in December 2024 - would also likely have a couple of warm-up fights to prepare for the AJ fight.
However, the promoter insisted The Gypsy King shouldn’t deserve to face Joshua if he loses those fights.
He said: “If he can't win the tune-up, then he shouldn't be getting in the ring [with Joshua].
“We want both guys firing on all cylinders to give the public the best version of them and if we can't get the best version of them, then maybe we don't do the fight.
“What we don't want is two guys who have been out for a year and a half, getting in there and they're both a little bit rusty.
“We need to allow these guys, who have been out of the ring for a long time, to be at their absolute pomp when they meet each other.”
