9 months ago
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ANTHONY JOSHUA could be in line for a world title shot while waiting out the winner of Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury and Usyk meet in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification on May 18 in Saudi Arabia.
ReutersAnd a rematch is to follow due to a clause in their contracts – but not all the titles are expected to be on the line for the second bout.
Filip Hrgovic is the current IBF mandatory challenger and next in line for a shot at the strap.
And by the time the rematch for Fury, 35, vs Usyk, 37, comes around the IBF gold will likely be vacated to allow for Hrgovic’s shot.
Joshua, 34, is just behind Hrgovic in the rankings and promoter Eddie Hearn is eyeing that fight for the vacant title if it does indeed become free.
It would give AJ the chance to become a three-time world champ while setting up potentially another undisputed clash between Fury or Usyk.
Joshua is coming off four wins, most recently a knockout over MMA superstar Francis Ngannou, 37.
Meanwhile, Hrgovic is in talks to fight Britain’s Daniel Dubois in Saudi on June 1 with Deontay Wilder also lined up to face China’s Zhilei Zhang.
It means if Dubois, 26, was to beat Hrgovic, 31, and inherit his right to challenge for the title, then Joshua could compete for it in an all-British blockbuster.
Five next fights for Anthony Joshua
- Filip Hrgovic
Current IBF mandatory challenger who could fight for the vacant belt in the future lining up AJ for a world title challenge
- Joseph Parker
Beaten by Joshua in 2018, losing his world title, but in hot form right now making the rematch an intriguing match up
- Dillian Whyte
Due to rematch AJ in August before failing a drug test which he has since been cleared of – breathing life into the all-Brit bout
- Daniel Dubois
Scored the biggest win of his career by beating Jarrell Miller on Joshua’s undercard to set himself up for a big fight in the future
- Deontay Wilder
Signed to face AJ in March before losing to Parker but Joshua has continued to leave the door open to fighting the American
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Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren confirmed the heavyweight is in talks for his next bout but welcomed the Joshua showdown in the future.
Warren told Sky Sports: “Daniel, at the moment we’re negotiating a fight.
“I can’t go into the details but it’s going to be a very meaningful fight – a very meaningful fight for him.
“I’d love to see that fight. An all British affair, there’s nothing like one of those for us over here. I’d love to see that.”
Reuters
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