Anthony Joshua's path to a showdown with Tyson Fury is trying a lot clearer after the British boxer knocked out Robert Helenius on August 13. The Finnish heavyweight was a late substitute for Dillian Whyte after the 35-year-old failed a voluntary drug take a look at, however he was to really feel the wrath of a knockout blow from Joshua within the seventh spherical that ended the competition there after which.

Talks are actually effectively underway for Joshua to face Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia early subsequent yr. It had been hoped that the pair would meet within the Middle East in December as a part of a mega double headline invoice with Fury and Oleksandr Usyk however regardless of that proposal now being lifeless within the water it nonetheless appears to be like like Joshua's day of future with American Wilder will come to move.

The contest could haven't any belts on the road, however the stakes are nonetheless excessive. Aside from the multi-million-pound struggle purse that will likely be on supply, the winner will be capable to stake a official declare to being the primary challenger for Fury, who has not defended his WBC title all yr.

Wilder and Joshua are the WBC's top-ranked challengers, both aspect of Andy Ruiz Jr who reportedly continues to cost himself out of a contest with Fury. As a outcome, a showdown between Wilder and Joshua in Saudi Arabia could flip into an eliminator contest, with the winner turning into Fury's necessary challenger.

Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, was requested by Boxing Social if he could be pushing for the proposed bout to grow to be an eliminator, however he performed down the concept, revealing that his shopper already had acceptable phrases agreed for a struggle with Fury.

Hearn mentioned: “Good query, however typically whenever you do this it impacts your bargaining place. I’ll provide you with an instance. Tyson Fury already agreed to 60/40 with Anthony Joshua.

"If he [Joshua] becomes mandatory, it’s 70/30 with the WBC. So probably not.”

Fury's lack of activity in the ring has been in part due to a failure to agree acceptable terms with his opponents. The most high-profile example is a 70/30 offer made to triple-belt holder Usyk.

“If he beats Wilder, AJ, I think the [Fury] fight becomes 50/50. But Fury as champion, 60/40 at the moment is fair," Hearn added.

"Don’t neglect when AJ was champion and Fury wasn’t, [Fury] mentioned he would solely take the struggle at 50/50. But we’re ready to take 60/40, which has type of been agreed finally anyway.”

Before Joshua may even take into consideration dealing with Fury, nevertheless, he should overcome Wilder in a match-up that's anticipated to reignite boxing fan's urge for food for the heavyweight division.