Anthony Joshua may have to face Tyson Fury without coach in his corner

Anthony Joshua may have to face Tyson Fury without trainer Rob McCracken because their £200million super-fight is due to take place during the Olympics.

Promoter Eddie Hearn says the heavyweight clash is most likely to happen between July 24 and early August, which would rule out McCracken because he will be in Tokyo.

McCracken is GB Boxing’s performance director and will oversee the British team’s medal efforts at the Games, which run from July 23 to August 8.

Hearn claims this window is being dictated by the host country and says Joshua is trying to resolve the problem with McCracken.

“I don't think we have a choice,” said the Matchroom MD. “There are too many people to fit around already with the fighters, trainers, countries, time zones and Olympics.

“Really whatever date we are given by the site is the date that we will go with and AJ will have to plan his camp accordingly.

“I know AJ and Rob have been talking accordingly, so I’m sure they will work it out.

“It will depend on timings, the date we get given is when the fight takes place and the guys know it will be around the Olympics.

“It could be inappropriate, but it’s the biggest fight in boxing and the biggest moment in AJ’s career, so they have to work it out.

“I know Rob takes his position with GB Boxing very seriously. He loves the job, he loves the kids so it’s not ideal, but it's not a case of 'can't you just move it a couple of weeks here, a couple of weeks there'.

“Someone is spending a lot of money and we are going to go on the date they say we go on.”

Saudi Arabia remains favourite to stage the historic clash for the undisputed world heavyweight title and Hearn says it could be indoors with a 20,000 crowd.

He says the fight should take priority over the Olympics because the showdown between Joshua and Fury is bigger than the Games.

“I know a lot of people won’t agree with me, but I personally see this as bigger than the Olympics,” he said. “The world will stop to watch this fight and it’s between two Brits.”

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Hearn revealed he visited Fury in Las Vegas to reassure him the fight will happen after the unbeaten WBC champ had threatened to walk away because of the delay over agreeing a venue and date.

Fury and his team received a proposal a week ago and Hearn says both sides are ironing out the finer details.

“We just had 10 minutes in his suite, but it was good to hear how dialled in he is for the fight,” said Hearn.

“When I saw the comments from him and his dad I wanted reassurance that when I deliver it, they will want it.

“Once they saw the offer, they felt a bit of positivity and believe the fight is happening.”

Fury and Joshua hold the four main heavyweight titles and Hearn is considering both champions doing their ring walk at the same time to solve the argument over who goes last.

“It would be unique if they walked at the same time from different sides of the arena,” he said. “It’s genuinely something I have thought about as a spectacle.”

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