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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.
