Anthony Joshua’s world title dream hinges on Fury and Usyk decision

The IBF have reportedly informed Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk that the winner of their upcoming undisputed fight will be ordered to face IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic next with no exceptions. Reports suggest that the pair have a two-way rematch clause signed into their contracts that can be activated by the loser of the inaugural encounter for a return bout.

If the clause is triggered then the IBF title will be vacated and the next highest-ranked heavyweight with the major sanctioning body will be called to fight Hrgovic for it. Currently, that is Anthony Joshua, who is ranked at No 3 with the IBF while the No 2 spot remains unoccupied. 

According to ESPN, the tentative date for Usyk vs Fury is December 23 although that could also be pushed back to early next year depending on what transpires during Fury and Francis Ngannou’s money-spinning Saudi showdown on October 28.

Fans had hoped to see Fury and Usyk get it on in April but a disagreement over the purse split for the fight led to negotiations collapsing. However, the paperwork has now been signed for it to take place in Riyadh though there remains problems.

“The IBF wrote that if I won my last fight and if Usyk beat Dubois that the IBF would enforce my mandatory status to fight Usyk for the title,” Hrgovic told ESPN. “The IBF has now allowed Tyson Fury and Usyk to do a unification first.

“The winner of that fight is mandated to fight me immediately after with no other intervening fight, so I expect to fight for the heavyweight championship early next year. I’m disappointed at the delay, but I will stay ready and I won’t let it distract me from my goal of winning the title. Whether against Usyk or Fury, my time is coming.”

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Joshua is expected to box Deontay Wilder in his next bout which could potentially clash with the IBF’s order. Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn claims they are pondering over multiple offers from the Middle East to host the fight.

He also insists that the Wilder fight remains Joshua’s top priority while AJ is hoping to stay active and fight at least three times within the next twelve months. Joshua’s camp manager, David Ghansa, also known as KD, insists his client will box before the year is out and then again in April of next year.

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