The promoter explained that he didn't want his charge to take on the IBF world champion again after his knockout loss in last month's world title fight but he can understand the boxer's "pride" as he looks to avenge his defeat.

Hearn told Sky Sports: "My initial thought after the fight was let's just chill out, maybe wait for Fury-Usyk.

"AJ's reaction was quite a bit different. Obviously out of pride you always want to take the rematch. But it's a little bit more calculated than that.

"It's more like, well, what happens if Usyk-Fury doesn't happen? What if someone gets injured, and even if it does happen they're not going to fight again until July, August? Then I'm out the ring for nearly a year and I want to be active."

Joshua has the option of fighting an opponent outside of the top three heavyweights as well as the rematch and Hearn doesn't think his fighter has a "bad decision to make".

The promoter said: "When you start actually thinking about it, I don't think there's a bad decision to make.

"I know that he is leaning towards the rematch because he wants to win the world heavyweight title. Versus fighting Wilder, waiting for Fury and then you've got all next year bubbling around not really fighting for the world heavyweight title."

Hearn added: "If it's solely down to AJ, which it will be at the end of the day, I think it's going to be very hard to talk him out of taking the rematch."