Eddie Hearn has warned Tyson Fury that he will need to make a U-turn on his retirement in the next month if he wants to agree a long-awaited bout with Anthony Joshua.

Former unified heavyweight champion Fury, 36, announced his retirement from the sport, for the third time, this week - just weeks after Oleksandr Usyk defeated him for a second time.

Earlier this month, Joshua, who was KO'd by his fellow Briton Daniel Dubois last time out, insisted a long-awaited fight with Fury had to happen in 2025.

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But the chances of the two Brits facing off was plunged into doubt earlier this week when Fury took to Instagram to confirm his retirement.

However, Hearn has warned Fury that he must reverse his retirement decision in the next "three or four weeks" if the multi-million-pound bout is to be booked for May or June.

"None of us know what Fury will do next, but if we are to see the fight in the summer, he would probably have to come out of retirement in the next three or four weeks," Hearn told The Daily Mail.

"After that, the summer gets difficult for a fight of this size. The future? Hopefully. I think he will be back, but it's in his hands. For AJ, we have options to pursue - and we are looking at them currently."

Monday's announcement was the third time Fury has retired from boxing, having done so in 2013 and 2022.

On the potential of fighting Fury, Joshua added: "It's a fight I want to see because I'm a fan of boxing.

"When I'm in the gym, everyone is asking me [about this fight].

"I ain't got many years ahead of me. I want to leave the game with a bang and make an impact. Everyone is asking me the same question. It's up to me to deliver, that's why I'm saying it has to happen this year.

"I think we can make this fight happen."