The biggest fight in British boxing history had seemed to be on the brink of collapse due to a disagreement on the host country. Hearn insisted that Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs) had signed a contract which categorically stated that the fight could not take place outside the UK, while Fury’s did not specify a country. Madison Square Garden in New York had emerged as a frontrunner for the fight ,but Hearn was adamant that Joshua would require an updated contract to make that happen.

But, with no progress on the situation for weeks, many British fight fans were fearing that the showdown more than a decade in the making might fall through.

Hearn has taken to social media to declare that talks have reopened about a potential showdown at Wembley.

“I want to thank everyone for the unbelievable support!,” Hearn wrote on Instagram. “You have been heard and talks have now reopened for Wembley. “Let’s make history with one of the biggest sporting moments Britain has ever seen.”

Meanwhile, during an interview with Boxing News, London mayor Sadiq Khan, whose brother Sid runs Earlsfield Boxing Club in west London, insisted that the fight between British boxing’s two biggest stars must happen on UK soil.

He said: “It has got to be.

“Both AJ and Tyson Fury recognize that their most loyal fans are in this country, many across the UK. London is so easy to get to, Wembley is so easy to get to and we could get 100,000 fans there very safely.

“I know both AJ and Tyson Fury would love it to be in front of their fans but the promoters have got to recognize that not only would there be 100,000 fans there live, but millions would watch across the globe. We want to make it happen. Work with us. Let’s make it happen.” Fury and Joshua appeared to be on a clear collision course after both came through warmup fights, though that was almost derailed last month. Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) forced Mariusz Wach into a seventh round retirement in their Thailand clash on July 24 before Joshua picked himself off the floor twice to stop Kristian Prenga in the second round in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 24 hours later. The pair, which has only crossed paths during a short sparring session at Finchley Amateur Boxing Club in 2010, is two-time world heavyweight champions with two defeats each to Oleksandr Usyk.