Anthony Joshua’s journey to heavyweight supremacy takes an unexpected turn with Filip Hrgovic on the horizon, following Deontay Wilder’s surprising loss to Joseph Parker.
Joshua, who secured an impressive victory against Otto Wallin on the same fight card where Wilder faced defeat, is now in contention for an IBF world title clash against the formidable Croatian fighter, Hrgovic.
Initially scheduled to meet in March 2024, both Joshua and Wilder needed victories in their recent bouts to ensure their highly anticipated showdown. While Joshua fulfilled his part with a commanding performance, Wilder's defeat to Parker disrupted the much-anticipated bout.
Anthony Joshua to potentially face Filip Hrgovic next – Getty image
However, this turn of events presents a new opportunity for Joshua. With Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk scheduled to vie for the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titles in February, the IBF belt may become vacant due to a mandatory defense.
As the current IBF number one contender, Hrgovic is now in a prime position to challenge for the vacant title, as reported by talkSPORT.
Joshua's recent triumph over Wallin has elevated him to the IBF number two spot, setting the stage for a potential showdown between Hrgovic and Joshua for the world championship.
Commenting on the recent turn of events, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn stated, “We signed for Wilder, he lost tonight. But maybe it’s a blessing because he wants to become a three-time heavyweight world champion. Now it’s gonna be AJ vs Hrgovic for the world title.”
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