Anthony Joshua lined up with Tyson Fury’s ex-opponent or old amateur rival for December return fight

ANTHONY JOSHUA could go over old ground in his proposed return fight in December.

The former two-time heavyweight champion is on the comeback trail following consecutive defeats on points to Oleksandr Usyk.

And Eddie Hearn hopes AJ can return before the end of the year in an arena bout.

Otto Wallin and  Zhilei Zhang - both of whom Joshua beat in the amateur ranks - are among the names he could possibly fight.

Hearn told : “Dillian Whyte is not a fight for December, but it is a fight for March and the summer, 100 per cent.

“It’s a big stadium fight in the UK. You’ve got Filip Hrgovic, who just won.

"I think it was a poor performance from him. Zhilei Zhang looked good. Otto Wallin also had a close fight with Tyson Fury.

“Dillian Whyte is a very good fight. I want to give Dillian Whyte a fight in November, and then I would like to make the AJ fight, subject to the Tyson Fury stuff."

Wallin, 31, gave Fury 47 stitches in 2019 but lost in a tight points verdict.

And Hrgovic, 30, only narrowly beat Zhang, 39, on the undercard of Usyk rematch with over AJ.

The Ukrainian, 35, was expected to face Fury, 34, in the heavyweight division's first four-belt unification bout.

But Usyk has ruled himself out until next year as he rests and recovers with family having returned to his war-torn home.

So Fury made the unexpected decision to call out beaten Joshua and claimed he had November 26 and December 3 booked for a bout.

Although talks between the opposing camps have been put on hold following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.