Anthony Joshua could regain world title without Daniel Dubois revenge or facing Fury vs Usyk winner

An avenue mightiness person opened up to let Anthony Joshua a changeable astatine a world title, without the erstwhile champion needing to look Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury aliases Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua, a erstwhile two-time heavyweight champion, grounded to return the IBF title from Dubois successful September, losing to his chap Briton by knockout astatine Wembley Stadium.

“AJ”, 35, has been linked to a rematch pinch Dubois, 27, but the second seems group for a title defence against Joseph Parker successful February. Meanwhile, Fury and Usyk will conflict for the unified belts connected 21 December – 7 months aft Usyk outpointed the “Gypsy King”.

Usyk’s triumph successful May saw him go undisputed champion, but he soon vacated the IBF belt, meaning interim champion Dubois was elevated.

The Ukrainian will take sides the remaining awesome titles against Fury, including but the WBC gold, yet the WBC has agreed to punishment an interim title conflict betwixt Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel. And Joshua could situation the victor of that bout, according to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman.

Sulaiman told Sky Sports connected Monday: “The WBC has received a general petition to punishment specified a conflict for the Interim title, and the WBC will judge to punishment it.

“Why? Because we person done everything imaginable for the past respective years to scope the ultimate, awesome fights successful each weight category, particularly successful the heavyweights.

“All this clip we person been perfectly clear and transparent that the WBC will not enforce immoderate mandatory that goes against having the eventual undisputed champion, because they’re fighting the champion available.

“There’s nary amended conflict than Usyk vs Fury, truthful pinch that fighting happening and past the possibilities for the future, we person accepted the No 2 and the No 3 to conflict for the interim title. Keep them active, and support the section having the champion fights possible.

“For the victor connected 21 December, there’s galore options. Why should anyone get successful the measurement of a 3rd fight? Or the conflict again for undisputed [against Dubois]? Or immoderate high-level event, while we tin accommodate the champion [and person a] conflict for an interim title, wherever the victor is going to beryllium a high-level, sensational possibility? So, we’re each for having undisputed champions.”

Joshua is classed sixth astatine heavyweight by the WBC, and Sulaiman – erstwhile asked whether AJ could situation Zhang aliases Kabayel – said: “Absolutely. That’s an opening of possibilities for much fights to proceed to return place.”

Zhang knocked retired Joe Joyce doubly successful 2023 and dropped Joseph Parker doubly successful a determination nonaccomplishment successful March. But the Chinese prima bounced backmost successful June, brutally knocking retired Deontay Wilder.

Meanwhile, Kabayel is connected a tally of 4 consecutive knockout wins, having astir precocious beaten Frank Sanchez successful May.