Former world heavyweight champion David Haye has revealed that he wants to fight Anthony Joshua in an all-British mega-fight next year.
Haye is currently recovering from the Achilles injury he sustained during his defeat to Tony Bellew in March, with talks over a possible December rematch still ongoing.
However, Haye is already looking further ahead than that and believes that a bout with WBA and IBF champion Joshua would be the biggest ever on English soil.
"The plan is [to return] before the end of the year. That's what I've said since I had my operation. That's what I believe will happen. There are a few names bouncing around but I'll probably know in the next couple of weeks. [A rematch with Bellew] might happen but only if we can get on the same page. We have always been on different pages. I won't be holding my breath for that one. If it's supposed to happen it will happen but at the moment I wouldn't put money on it," he told reporters.
"If I can have two fights back and work my way up the rankings, then it will be up to Joshua to give the fans one of the biggest fights ever in the UK. Four fights, maximum. I believe I can work my way up the rankings and get the right fight with the right guys. Number one in my eyes is Anthony Joshua. Joshua has some business to take care of with [Kubrat] Pulev but then next year, in an ideal world, I'll fight Anthony Joshua.
"At the moment, I'm not on his radar because I lost my last fight. He's worried about his mandatory challenger, not me, understandably. He knows he is my target; he's everybody's target because he is considered number one. If you want to claim you're the best in the world in the heavyweight division, you have to go through Anthony Joshua and do something nobody has ever done before.
"I love that challenge, I love the fact that he's 10 years younger than me and three stone heavier than me, three inches taller. That for me is a challenge and a challenge that 90% of the population don't think I've got a chance with. Next year, if I can win a couple of fights and he keeps his titles, we can both take on each other in the biggest fight ever on UK soil."
Joshua's next bout comes against Kubrat Pulev in Cardiff on October 28.
Barney Corkhill
