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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk Set for Unification Clash
Heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have agreed to face each other in a blockbuster unification fight. The highly anticipated bout, scheduled for either December 23 or January, has the potential to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis.
World Title Shot for Anthony Joshua
Regardless of the outcome, it is expected that Fury and Usyk will have a rematch. This could be good news for Anthony Joshua, as the IBF has confirmed that if Usyk rematches Fury, Joshua could receive a world title shot against the next available contender in the rankings. As Joshua is currently ranked No2, he would have the opportunity to face undefeated Filip Hrgovic for the belt.
A Preferable Route to a Title
For Joshua, a fight against Hrgovic would be a more preferable route to a world title compared to facing Fury or Usyk. Joshua has previously lost twice to Usyk, being outboxed by the Ukrainian in both London and Saudi Arabia. Facing Fury, who would be the heavy favorite, has been discussed for a long time but has yet to come to fruition.
Potential Joshua-Wilder Clash on the Same Night
Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that if the Fury-Usyk clash happens on December 23, there is a possibility that Joshua could face knockout artist Deontay Wilder on the same night. However, Hearn believes that a clash between Joshua and Wilder is more likely to occur in 2024.
The Fight Everyone Wants
Hearn expressed his confidence that a Joshua-Wilder fight will happen in the first half of next year. Both teams are motivated to make the fight a reality, with possible venues including Vegas and Wembley. While money is always important, the recent Fury-Usyk fight announcement has given both sides an extra push to finalize their own bout.
IBF Mandatory Challenger
Filip Hrgovic is the mandatory challenger for the IBF title, and if Usyk rematches Fury, Hrgovic will have the opportunity to fight for the belt. This could potentially pave the way for Joshua to secure his world title shot.
Did you miss our previous article...
https://secondsaway.co.uk/boxing/meet-the-future-of-british-boxing-from-mean-streets-to-graduates
