Two-time world champion Anthony Joshua has entered the WBC heavyweight rankings ahead a potential all-British showdown with champion Tyson Fury.
The British-Nigerian has been inserted at No.6 following successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, who retained the WBA, IBF and WBO belts by split decision in last month’s rematch in Saudi Arabia.
Fury, who knocked out Dillian Whyte at Wembley in April, had been open to an undisputed clash against Usyk, before learning the Ukrainian would not be ready to box again until 2023.
He has since taken to social media to call out Joshua and offered the 32-year-old a 60-40 purse for a fight that had been due to take place in August 2021 before an arbitration judge ruled that Deontay Wilder was entitled to a third fight with Fury.
Joshua’s team on Tuesday confirmed they had accepted the terms laid out by Fury’s team ahead of a potential all-British super-fight on December 3.
The statement read, “258 and @MatchroomBoxing can confirm, on behalf of @anthonyjoshua, that we accepted all terms presented to us by Fury’s team for a fight Dec 3rd last Friday.
“Due to the Queen’s passing, it was agreed to halt all communication.
“We are awaiting a response.”
Joshua’s entry into the top 15 as a former world champion meets the WBC’s criteria for a champion for Fury to defend his titles in either a voluntary or mandatory defence.
There is no current mandatory challenger in place to face Fury, with Wilder No.1 in the ratings ahead of his eliminator against Robert Helenius in October and Andy Ruiz No.2 following his recent victory over Luis Ortiz in their eliminator.
