Tyson Fury will get a second crack at beating Oleksandr Usyk but there will be one less title on the line after their first meeting was for all four.
The Ukrainian became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over two decades by beating the Brit, scoring a knockdown in the ninth that proved vital on the scorecards.
A rematch will take place on December 21 back in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but the IBF belt has now been vacated by Usyk due to an inability to face his mandatory challenger.
Daniel Dubois has been elevated from Interim to Full Champion, and makes his first defence against Anthony Joshua on September 21.
Promoter Frank Warren told Sky Sports that his charge Fury is ‘disappointed’ but believes he’ll be facing young Dubois for undisputed in 2025.
“Well he’s a bit disappointed, but you know it is what it is.
Tyson’s job, he doesn’t need me to tell him this he knows it himself, is to focus on this big match on the 21st of December in Riyadh. He said the same thing, he feels Daniel Dubois is going to do the business [against Joshua] so that will be the unification next year.
Should Fury win the rematch and Joshua beat Dubois to become a three-time world champ, all roads lead to the British battle that fans have been demanding for years now.
Of course, little is guaranteed in boxing, especially with the likes of Usyk and Dubois standing in the way.
