Anthony Joshua is in line to fight for a world title as early as September – once Oleksandr Usyk is stripped of one of his belts. Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight king since Lennox with a dramatic points victory over Tyson Fury in Riyadh at the weekend.

Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, has indicated that his fighter will take the rematch, slated for October back in Saudi Arabia. By then, it is highly unlikely all four belts will be on the line again.

That is because the IBF is set to strip Usyk, who plans to take a break after a gruelling nine-month training camp, of their belt for not fighting the number one contender. At present, that is Croatian Filip Hrgovic, who fights Daniel Dubois in Riyadh on June 1.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes Usyk will not have the IBF title taken off him in time for that belt to be on the line in Hrgovic vs Dubois. However, it could be up for grabs when Joshua faces the winner of that bout, with AJ tipped to fight at Wembley in September.

Joshua would be ready to step in Fury or Usyk if the rematch doesn’t happen in October, according to Hearn. However, he expects Fury-Usyk 2 to go ahead. “He can step in and fight anybody,” Hearn explained to Boxing News on Thursday.

Joshua would be ready to step in Fury or Usyk if the rematch doesn’t happen in October, according to Hearn. However, he expects Fury-Usyk 2 to go ahead. “He can step in and fight anybody,” Hearn explained to Boxing News today (Thursday).

“But if the rematch takes place, it’s very likely that AJ fights the winner of Hrgovic-Dubois. We’ll see what happens, anything is possible.”