Joshua ready to accept Fury vs Usyk step aside deal

ANTHONY JOSHUA is ready to accept a step-aside deal to allow Tyson Fury to fight Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title.

British superstar AJ had planned to rematch the Ukrainian, having been dethroned of the WBA, IBF and WBO belts in September.

But talks are ongoing over  multi-million pound offers for Joshua, 32, to step aside to allow Fury, 33, and Usyk, 35, to clash for all the belts in the Middle East.

AJ is open to accepting a deal, with his price believed to be £15million.

It would also allow the two-time champion the chance to take an interim warm-up fight under his new coaching team.

AJ and promoter Eddie Hearn are due to meet TOMORROW, where his future will be discussed.

Hearn told Sky Sports: "I'm meeting with AJ and 258 management [on Tuesday] to go through plans for his next fight.

"We have a number of proposals and options to discuss. The goal remains the same of course - to re-capture the world heavyweight crown."

Joshua is yet to confirm whether he will completely switch his training squad or bring in additions to the camp.

Together with head coach Rob McCracken, the pair have won Olympic gold and achieved unified titles in the professional ranks.

But Hearn has admitted it could now be time for a change of approach with Joshua heading into a must-win return.

WBC champ Fury is mandated to fight fellow Brit Dillian Whyte but the contender is in a legal row with the sanctioning body over his  20 per cent split  of the purse.

Whyte, 33, would also need to receive a fee for what would allow the first-ever, four-belt heavyweight unification.

The WBC mandatory challenger is said to be in line for a £5m pay-off if he agrees.

Fury's US and UK promoters, Bob Arum and Frank Warren, have both admitted Usyk is the opponent they most want to work towards a deal with.