Anthony Joshua may have to wait for his shot at Tyson Fury after the WBO insisted they will force him to face his mandatory challenger first.
Joshua and Fury have agreed terms on a deal to fight twice in 2021 in order to establish the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis 20 years ago.
But there are several hurdles remaining before they can touch gloves with Fury due to face Deontay Wilder this winter and Joshua preparing for his clash with Kubrat Pulev.
Should Fury win his trilogy clash with Wilder he could then be forced to face mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte early next year.
And the WBO are ready to insist Joshua takes on the winner of Oleksandr Usyk’s fight with Dereck Chisora.
The organisation’s president, Paco Valcarcel, tweeted: “Love to see WBO unified champion, Anthony Joshua, fighting WBO former and current WBC champion, Tyson Fury, for the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, but WBO mandatory should be next.”
Usyk, who was the undisputed cruiserweight world champion before he moved up a division last year, was due to face Chisora in May, but the fight has been delayed due to the coronavirus crisis.
Tyson Fury has stoked the flames ahead of his planned double-header against Anthony Joshua by claiming he is a bigger puncher than his heavyweight rival.
It was confirmed by Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, this week that the British duo have reached an agreement for two unification fights next year.
Joshua holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts after avenging his only career defeat against Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2019, meaning he has won 23 of his 24 career bouts – with 21 by knockout.
Fury’s stunning victory over Deontay Wilder in their February rematch to reclaim the WBC belt was also his 21st career knockout – although he reached that mark in seven more fights than Joshua.
Despite that, Fury says he agrees with Frank Warren’s suggestion that he is the more devastating puncher, telling Queensbury Promotions’ YouTube channel: “I turned pro at 19. As a child, I was boxing men.
“[Joshua] never turned pro until he was mid-20s, when he was a man. So I was learning as a young kid. If I had turned pro at 25, 26, then I’d have knocked all the people out who went the distance with me when I was a young boy.
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