Frank Warren has cast doubts over whether Anthony Joshua "fancies" his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk this year.
The British star lost his unified titles to the Ukrainian last year and will be seeking revenge for the second time in his career after avenging his previous defeat to Andy Ruiz.
Joshua was in talks to step aside from his second meeting with Usyk and allow Tyson Fury to challenge Usyk for the undisputed crown but the plans eventually collapsed.
Despite Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn confirming rematch plans, Warren has expressed his doubts over Joshua wanting to fight his former rival after Hearn questioned Fury's desire to take a fight with Usyk.
Warren told talkSPORT : “He keeps talking about Tyson not fighting Usyk, I don’t think Joshua will. That’s my opinion. I don’t think he fancies that rematch at the moment.
"Hearn has his hands full now, he’s got that fight to get on and why does he keep banging on about what we’re doing for?
"Our fight is going to be on BT Box Office, it’s going to be a great fight to watch. Afterwards, they can go and watch all those shows Eddie [Hearn] is putting on his app."
Warren is currently focused on staging his charge Fury's title defence against Whyte after he trumped Hearn with a mega £31 million offer to stage the fight.
Joshua's rematch with Usyk is now expected to take place after the defence is fulfilled and the winners from both fights are expected to challenge each other for all the belts.
However 'AJ' has a huge task on his hands after being comprehensively outboxed by the new unified champion in their previous showdown.
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The British star is expected to announce an appointment of a new coach after he faced widespread criticism for his tactical approach to the opening fight.
Hearn has confirmed that the fight is virtually 'agreed' with just a venue and date to be confirmed for the fight.
Joshua has shown a bullish defiance when asked about his defeat in the past and has vowed to turn the tables later this year.
But Warren has questioned Joshua's "attitude" and believes Usyk has Joshua's number and will win the meeting.
"I do fancy Usyk in the rematch, I did feel that Joshua's corner got it wrong in the last fight. I don't think they got it right at all," he told Boxing Social.
"I feel Usyk's got his number, I feel Usyk's got an exceptional trainer in old man Lomachenko, he's a bloody good trainer and I think they'll be really up fro this in more ways than one.
"I'll be interested to see if AJ does change his trainer but irrespective of that, he's got a lot of things to work on, not just his trainer.
"His attitude in that fight, I don't think was good. I don't think he was doing what a big guy should have been doing."
