Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has said that he is "hopeful" of arranging a world title bout between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko before the end of the year.

Klitschko had been gearing up for a rematch with WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, only for the Briton to pull out for a second time due to medical reasons.

Joshua, meanwhile, is scheduled for a mandatory defence of his IBF heavyweight title on November 26, although Hearn is keen to push that date back.

"I am hopeful, both guys have it in their mind that that is going to be the next fight. There are plenty of hurdles to overcome still and day by day we are ticking each of them off and I think there is a real expectancy from all sides now that that will be the next fight," he told PA.

"Can we push that back to December? I'd like a little bit more time, that's a possibility as well. Wladimir Klitschko against Joshua is the most likely scenario. There are less lucrative ones Klitschko could take, some easier ones definitely. Klitschko has been training for 12 months, he has got the bit between his teeth and he wants to fight.

"The Joshua fight is probably the biggest out there in the division right now and it is a great fight - a young lion coming through against the master. Is it too early for Anthony Joshua? Maybe, but isn't that what makes it exciting? Anthony is ready for the fight and wants the fight. Wladimir wants the fight and all being well we can overcome the inevitable hurdles that come with a magnitude of this fight."

The bout could also be for the WBA and WBO belts should Fury be stripped of his titles.