Anthony Joshua's injury will not impact upon his planned fights with Kubrat Pulev or Tyson Fury, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

Joshua was pictured on crutches, with his left knee in a brace, while attending a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford.

The IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight champion is expected to be out of action for four weeks.

Charles Martin's camp said the American was "ready and waiting" to fight Pulev later this year if Joshua was unable to compete.

Hearn, however, has no concerns about Joshua's injury making him a doubt to face Pulev or Fury, who has an agreement in principle over a double-header in 2021.

"When you're on crutches with your leg in a brace it is never great, but it's not something that will affect his 2020 career or his career at all," Hearn told Sky Sports.

"He will have [the brace] on for three or four weeks just to make sure he is good to go to resume training.

"He tweaked the inside of his knee. He's had scans. No surgery, so that's good news.

"He's got to make sure he doesn't do any running or heavy work over the next few weeks."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Drop a gear & disappear 

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Hearn says the IBF mandatory bout with Pulev is likely to take place in November, allowing the prospect of a unification clash with Fury after he fights Deontay Wilder for a third time and Dillian Whyte before February next year.

"In our minds, [Joshua versus Pulev] happens in November," said Hearn.

"We know that Deontay Wilder's side are working on the Fury fight. We have Dillian Whyte hopefully fighting at our headquarters in August against Alexander Povetkin.

"There are talks to stage the Pulev fight around November. That's the fight that is next. It's the IBF mandatory.

"We want to make sure that, when a Joshua-Fury fight does happen, it is for all the belts. The undisputed heavyweight championship of the world."