Anthony Joshua could have a shot at the vacant IBF heavyweight world title after Tyson Fury’s agreed deal to fight Oleksandr Usyk opens up a fresh possibility.
The Brit and the Ukrainian announced last week they would take eachother on in a battle for the undisputed heavyweight champion, due to be held either on December 23 or in January.
Between them, the pair hold all four of men’s heavyweight world titles with Fury the current WBC champion and Usyk holding WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
However, after ESPN reported there was a two-way rematch clause confirming a second bout between the two, it opens up a possibility for Joshua to fight for the IBF title.
Anthony Joshua brutally knocked out late stand-in for Dillian Whyte, Robert Helenius in August
Tyson Fury is set to fight former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou on October 28
The rematch clause will allow the loser of Fury v Usyk I to force a second fight, but this will not be an undisputed bout.
16-0 Croatian Filip Hrgovic is the current IBF mandatory challenger and is already overdue his shot at the title.
The winner of the first fight between Fury and Usyk has been ordered by the sanctioning body to defend against the dangerous unbeaten Croatian next, with no exceptions.
With the rematch clause meaning the two greats will fight again, Hrgovic will have to fight the next best ranked contender for the IBF world title.
Currently this is AJ who is coming off the back of a brutal knock-out win over Robert Helenius.
At present Joshua is trying to negotiate a fight with American powerpuncher Deontay Wilder, with promotor Eddie Hearn even hinting this bout could happen on the same night as Fury v Usyk.
However should this not come through, AJ could take on the Croatian for a world title belt.
Oleksandr Usyk is a three belt champion and knocked out Daniel Dubois in Poland in August