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Anthony Joshua next fight: Mandatory challengers must come before a third Andy Ruiz Jr boutBy Evening Standard

Anthony Joshua’s next fight must be against a mandatory challenger, according to the World Boxing Organisation.

Joshua regained the WBO, IBF and WBA (Super) titles with a unanimous points decision victory over Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia, having lost them to the Mexican at the start of June.

In the immediate aftermath both and Ruiz signalled their intentions to complete the trilogy of bouts, but WBO president Paco Valcarcel looks to have put the buffers on that, for now at least.

WBO rules state that champions who move up in weight are automatically elevated to mandatory challengers, and Oleksandr Usyk would be that challenger.

The Ukrainian defeated Chazz Witherspoon in October after clearing up in the cruiserweight division.

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“Clash of the Dunes is over... Now clash of mandatories will be next,” insisted Valcarcel. “WBO mandatory challenger Usyk within 180 days.”

That timeframe would mean that AJ must fight Usyk before June 4 2020.

Responding to Valcarcel’s comments, Joshua said: “In 180 days? Lets rock and roll mate. Usyk? No problem.”

And a mandatory challenger is not limited to just his WBO title. IBF are also set to order Joshua to take on their mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev

Joshua successfully defended his IBF title against Pulev at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium back in October 2017.

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