Former Heavyweight champion of the world Tyson Fury says he is re-applying for his boxing licence, with the hope he will be ready to fight later this year.

Fury saw his licence suspended in 2016 because of “anti-doping and medical issues” and he accepted a backdated two-year ban in December – meaning he can return in 2018.

Delighted to have @Tyson_Fury back! I’ll be applying for the reinstatement of his BBBoC license on his behalf. He is the best Heavyweight in the World and he is coming to recapture the belts he never lost in the Ring, stating in April!

— Frank Warren (@frankwarren_tv) January 10, 2018

Promoter Frank Warren has confirmed that he will be applying for the licence, although the The British Boxing Board of Control insists they are ‘nowhere near’ agreeing to reinstate Fury.

However, Fury has been quick to confirm he has British star Anthony Joshua in his sights and promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed talks have begun.

“I have spoken to Tyson Fury, he even got in contact with Anthony Joshua at the weekend, so we’re all talking,” he said.

“Let me tell you, that’s a fight that we would sit down now and make for 2018.

“I’ve already seen that he wants 60-40, Tyson Fury, which is not quite the idea that we have, but we are up for making the Tyson Fury fight.

“It won’t be next, because we know what we’re trying to do next. We’re trying to clean up the division and win all the belts, but if it has to be the one after in the summer or have to be after that.

“We are prepared to sit down and make that fight now with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is as well, because he called me straight after Tyson was texting him the other day.”

I keep saying I want to fight @anthonyfjoshua in my first fight back, ray lennard had 1 fight in 5 years then came back & beat Marvin haglar, so it can be done ✅

— TYSON2FASTFURY (@Tyson_Fury) January 10, 2018

Should Joshua and Fury meet – Bookmakers already have the odds down, and Betsafe make Joshua 8/13 favourite with Fury at 4/3,