WBA, IBO, IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs), who collected an Olympic gold medal in 2012, embraces the idea of a fight with former champion Tyson Fury (25-0, 18 KOs).

Fury, who held the WBO, IBF, WBA, IBO titles, is training for a ring return in 2018, but he needs to shave off a lot of weight that accumulated during his layoff. Fury has been out of the ring since winning an upset twelve round unanimous decision over Wladimir Klitschko in November of 2015.

"It is a fight I would like to see but the ball's in his court - he has to get fit. When he's ready, we'll open the doors, and if he walks through, we'll welcome him," Joshua told Sky Sports.

Fury, who lost his world titles and his boxing license more than a year ago due to his failing mental health and substance abuse issues, is scheduled to take part in a hearing next month with UK-Anti Doping - who claim the boxer tested positive for a banned substance in early 2015.

Joshua is now engaged in serious discussions to fight WBO champion Joseph Parker in the first quarter of 2018.

"The situation with Parker, we have presented an offer to them, and we'll patiently wait," said Joshua. "Nothing's been agreed and it's the same situation with Tyson Fury. I want to be the undisputed champion of the world, and to do that I must fight Wilder and Parker."

But Joshua is also being targeted by WBC world champion Deontay Wilder.

Over the last few weeks, both Wilder and Parker have been verbally blasting Joshua.

"With Wilder - who said I'm running scared - the same situation, and we've been talking with his team. We staged a fight with one of the all-time greats, Wladimir Klitschko, and staged a fantastic fight at Wembley, where we put our egos and demands to one side," Joshua said.

"But I just don't know where Parker and Wilder's mindsets are and what they want. I just think they have poor PR management."