Anthony Joshua in talks to replace Tyson Fury in heavyweight showdown with Wladimir Klitschko

Fury pulled out of the fight for a second time late on Friday night

(Getty Images)

Anthony Joshua could be about to step into Tyson Fury’s place and face Wladimir Klitschko after the IBF champion’s camp opened talks over a possible November showdown.

Fury pulled out of the rematch with Klitschko on Friday night after being declared “medically unfit to fight” and Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed he had made contact with the Ukrainian’s camp.

Joshua is scheduled to make the second defence of his IBF heavyweight title on November 26 at the Manchester Arena after beating Dominic Breazeale in convincing fashion earlier this year.

Hearn had not confirmed the Watford-born boxer’s next opponent but has opened the door for it to be Klitschko, although admitted the October date of the scheduled Fury fight would be too soon.

He also suggested the fallout from the fight cancellation may mean Klitschko is unable to make Joshua’s November date.

"I reached out to Berndt last night and if there is a chance of a unification fight with AJ and Klistchko, we'd be all over it,” said Hearn.

"I'm guessing they have a whole lot of mess to sort out, but AJ is keen on the fight in November or the immediate fight after."

It is the second time Fury has pulled out of the rematch after ending Klitschko’s 10-year dominance of the Heavyweight division in November last year, and it could see him stripped of his WBO and WBA titles due to his inability to defend them inside a year.

Bernd Boente, who Hearn said he had ‘reached out’ to for a potential showdown, is frustrated at the withdrawal and believes his fighter is being ‘held hostage’.

Joshua beat Dominic Breazeale earlier this year (Getty Images)

“Wladimir is totally disappointed that the guy postponed again,” Boente told ESPN.com.

“Wladimir is being held hostage by this guy. He wants to fight, he trains, and now the first fight is almost a year ago.

“It's up to the governing bodies to make a decision regarding the titles, but that is not in our hands. We hope Wladimir can fight again soon.”