British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua could potentially contend for the vacant IBF heavyweight world title following Tyson Fury’s agreement to face Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed championship.
Fury, the current WBC champion, and Usyk, who holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts, have confirmed their showdown, slated for either December 23 or January.
However, the reported rematch clause in their contract means that the loser of Fury versus Usyk can invoke a second fight, albeit without undisputed status. This development creates an opening for Joshua to vie for the IBF title.
Filip Hrgovic, an undefeated Croatian with a record of 16-0, currently stands as the IBF mandatory challenger and is overdue for his title shot.
The sanctioning body has mandated that the victor of the initial Fury versus Usyk encounter must defend the IBF title against Hrgovic, with no exceptions.
Given the rematch clause, Hrgovic will have to face the next highest-ranked contender for the IBF world title, which presently happens to be Joshua.
Joshua’s recent knockout victory over Robert Helenius has strengthened his position.
While Joshua is in negotiations for a bout with American power puncher Deontay Wilder, there’s speculation that this fight could coincide with Fury versus Usyk.
Should these negotiations fall through, Joshua may have the opportunity to challenge Hrgovic for a world title belt.
Promoter Eddie Hearn emphasized that the Hrgovic fight also comes with a world title, further fueling Joshua’s quest to become a three-time heavyweight champion.
The dynamic of these developments is certainly worth watching closely in the coming months.
