CUBAN heavyweight Frank Sanchez is gunning for Anthony Joshua’s WBO belt which he believes will soon become vacant.
Brit star AJ won back his unified titles in December against underdog champion Andy Ruiz Jr, but soon after was given both IBF and WBO mandatory defences.
Frank Sanchez is gunning for Anthony Joshua’s WBO belt which he believes will soon become vacantCredit: Getty
Joshua, 30, was due to first face 38-year-old Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in June, but the coronavirus pandemic has forced the fight to be backdated.
It means WBO mandatory Oleksandr Usyk – whose main-event clash against Derek Chisora has also been backdated – will have to wait even longer for a shot at the title.
With promoter Eddie Hearn keen to bypass mandatory defences to secure a historic unification with newly crowned WBC king Tyson Fury, Sanchez’s manager reckons Usyk will fight for the vacated WBO belt against his man.
Mike Barao told Sky Sports: “Just a guess but I think Usyk ends up winning a vacated WBO heavyweight title within the next 12 months.
“Frank is in good position to fight for the WBO championship, in the event that occurs.
“I believe Frank Sanchez versus WBO number 6 Junior Fa or number seven Michael Hunter would make sense.”
Joshua was told by the WBO president he had until June to defend his belt against Usyk, but it remains to be seen whether he will be given an extension due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Despite calls from rival promoters and managers to have AJ stripped should he try jump straight into an undisputed clash against Fury, governing bodies will usually grant permission for a mandatory to be bypassed for a unification fight.
However, the Gypsy King is still set to face Deontay Wilder for a third time and told by the WBC that he has to face mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte by February – which too could be subject to change.
With Fury potentially tied up for another two fights, should Joshua beat Pulev then WBO mandatory Usyk is expected to be his following fight.
Joshua was expected tp face IBF mandatory Kubrat Pulev in his next fightCredit: PA:Press Association
Eddie Hearn announces Joshua vs Pulev postponement as coronavirus outbreak KO’s heavyweight title fight at Tottenham
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
