ANTHONY JOSHUA could receive a world title shot if Tyson Fury takes on Oleksandr Usyk in a blockbuster unification clash.
Fury, 35, and Usyk, 36, have agreed to fight each other on December 23 or in January in a bout that would crown a first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis.
GettyTyson Fury looks set to take on Oleksandr Usyk in an undisputed clash[/caption]
Usyk is expected to rematch Fury regardless of the outcome of the first fightRichard Pelham / The Sun
Anthony Joshua could receive a title shot off the back of Fury and Usyk’s fightRichard Pelham / The Sun
Regardless of the outcome, it is expected the pair will have a rematch.
And a second fight between Fury and Usyk could be good news for two-time champion Joshua, 33.
According to Mike Coppinger, the IBF have confirmed Filip Hrgovic will receive a world title shot against the next available contender in the rankings if champion Usyk rematches Fury.
Joshua is currently No2 in the rankings, meaning he would face undefeated Hrgovic, 31, for the belt.
And a clash with the Croatian would be a more welcome route to a title as oppose to a fight with Fury or Usyk.
AJ lost twice to Usyk in London and Saudi Arabia as the Ukrainian outboxed him on both occasions.
A clash with Fury has been mooted for a long time but never come to a fruition – but Fury would be a heavy favourite if the pair did meet.
Meanwhile, AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently revealed his man could face KO artist Deontay Wilder on the SAME NIGHT as Fury-Usyk if the undisputed clash happens on December 23.
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ReutersFilip Hrgovic is the mandatory challenger for the IBF title[/caption]
Discussing a potential Joshua-Wilder date, he said: “It could go on December 23, maybe even as well.”
However, he went on to insist it is more likely for 2024.
He added: “That fight, in my opinion, will 100 per cent happen in the first half of next year, maybe even in the first quarter.
“I can’t tell you any more than I’m talking to Shelly Finkel [Wilder’s representative] and we’ve made it crystal clear, as they have to us, we want this fight.
“We’re talking about Vegas, we’re talking about Wembley and we appreciate the money might not be completely the same as what we’ve been offered by Saudi Arabia.
“And money’s always important but I think both guys actually genuinely want the fight and when you get fights like Fury-Usyk made it does give everybody a little nudge to say, ‘Let’s make ours now.’
“And there’s a definite feeling from their team and ours to get that fight over the line.”