Tyson Fury's WBO and WBA world heavyweight titles should be on the line if a deal is reached for Anthony Joshua to fight Wladimir Klitschko, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
Fury is expected to be stripped of his WBA and WBO belts after ESPN revealed on Friday he had tested positive for cocaine. Both world governing bodies are due to make a decision on Fury's status as champion next week.
And Joshua's promoter Hearn hopes both belts will be on the line if he can reach a deal with Klitschko's team about fighting IBF champion Joshua at the Manchester Arena on Nov. 26.
"The first objective for us is to make the fight with Klitschko and the decision from the governing bodies on the belts will come after that," Hearn said.
"We've not got a deal yet, but there's definitely a desire from both sides to make the fight happen. I will speak to [Klitschko's manager] Bernd Boente and Klitschko and AJ over the weekend.
"If there was any doubt about Fury being stripped that has gone after this latest positive test. It's just if AJ fights Klitschko what belts will be on the line? I think every governing body would want to sanction Joshua-Klitschko.
"For me the issue is not if another belt is on the line, it's how many. I think it could be four with the IBO.
"I just can't see going to a sanctioning body and saying 'Do you want to sanction it?' and them turning around and saying 'No'. I don't think it should just be a voluntary defence of Anthony's IBF belt. It's bigger than that.
"Klitschko's options might change a bit because it might make it easier for him to fight for the vacant belt. But financially, it's the biggest fight out there for each of them."
Fury (25-0, 18 KOs), 28, has tumbled from one setback to another since out-pointing Ukrainian Klitschko for the IBF, WBA and WBO belts in Germany in November last year.
The shock win ended Klitschko's reign of over nine years and a lucrative rematch, as well as other big fights, seemed part of an exciting future for Fury.
But since becoming world heavyweight No. 1, Fury has been at the centre of a series of controversies.
First, he pulled out of fighting Klitschko (64-4, 53 KOs), 40, for a scheduled rematch on July 9 due to an ankle injury sustained while running.
Then it was revealed he allegedly failed a dope test in February 2015 for the banned steroid Nandrolone. The ongoing case with UK Ant-Doping (UKAD) will reach a conclusion at a hearing on Nov. 4.
Finally, ESPN revealed the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), which was overseeing the drug testing for the rematch between Fury and Klitschko, had informed Fury a urine sample taken on Sept. 22 had tested positive for benzoylecgonine, the central compound found in cocaine.
Fury withdrew from fighting Klitschko on Sept. 23 because he had been declared "medically unfit to fight", reportedly because of mental health problems.
Hearn expects Fury to receive a ban from at least the British Boxing Board of Control for testing positive for cocaine -- but has not ruled out a future fight between the Morecambe-based boxer and 2012 Olympic gold medallist Joshua (17-0, 17 KOs)
"The outcome of the impending hearing would carry a more lengthy ban and it's more about the credibility than anything else," Hearn said.
"He's got his problems which he needs to resolve and it's not going to be a short term problem.
"We don't know yet whether UKAD will ban him, but I think the British Boxing Board of Control will certainly give him a ban.
"One thing you don't want when you have a great fighter like Anthony Joshua is to be derailed and could happen with fights falling through like we have seen with Fury and Klitschko.
"Wladimir Klitschko has had to wait 12 months to fight and he's 40. I want Tyson Fury to be back in the mix and I want Tyson Fury to be in the heavyweight division and I want Anthony Joshua to fight him, but I don't want Anthony Joshua to be messed about.
"If Tyson can get better and get himself straight I think he can have a positive impact on the sport as well as a negative one.
"We all hope he returns to the ring, but it has to be in a serious way."
Joshua-Klitschko would take place at the Manchester Arena on November 26, although there is a possibility of it being staged at the same venue on December 10. The Principality Stadium - formerly the Millennium Stadium - was considered for December 3, but another event happening at the Welsh venue ruled it out.
"Boxing is about timing and everything feels right about this fight," Hearn said.
"It's probably down to AJ and us to get the deal he feels is right for the fight.
"There's a risk factor. This is a fight that has come perhaps one maybe two fights before it was initially planned. The experience gulf is the most concerning factor.
"Is AJ ready? What does Klitschko have left? It's a fascinating fight.
"There are a few issues about who gets what, plus Klitschko is with HBO and we are with Showtime but hopefully a deal can be done amicably for both sides."