AJ-Dubois, Wilder exit - what next for the heavyweights?

For nan first clip successful almost 25 years nan heavyweight section has an undisputed champion successful Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.

The weight has ever been boxing’s glamour section and aft years of disputes extracurricular nan ringing preventing nan champion fights, fans are now getting to spot nan rivalries settled betwixt nan ropes.

With Usyk’s epic triumph complete Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois’ resurgence, what is adjacent for nan heavyweight division?

The Usyk-Fury rematch has already been confirmed for 21 December. That is nan moving day aft plans for an October rematch were quickly put aside.

At 37, we could beryllium witnessing nan last section of Usyk’s unthinkable profession while Fury, 35, will person an opportunity for revenge aft his first profession defeat.

The only mobility that remains is whether nan title will beryllium for nan undisputed championship.

Usyk has requested an objection from nan IBF aft it said he would beryllium stripped of his title if he doesn’t conflict his mandatory challenger.

The sanctioning assemblage is considering nan request, but did make Dubois' bout pinch Filip Hrgovic past Saturday a title for nan IBF 'interim' heavyweight title. Dubois will beryllium upgraded to world champion if Usyk is stripped of his IBF loop earlier his rematch pinch Fury.

The IBF's determination will person large ramifications for nan remainder of nan division.

Deontay Wilder’s brutal stoppage conclusion by Zhilei Zhang will person been difficult to watch for galore fans.

Once nan astir feared puncher successful boxing, Wilder has seemed a protector of himself successful his past 2 fights.

Three epic encounters pinch Fury mightiness person taken a batch retired of nan American, and successive losses to Joseph Parker and Zhang look to person brought an extremity to nan era of nan 'Bronze Bomber'.

Wilder said earlier nan conflict he would earnestly see status if he suffered different defeat, but location has been nary charismatic announcement astir his future.

He would person plentifulness of options if he continues fighting and seems to beryllium celebrated pinch nan Saudi Arabian powerbrokers.

But Wilder turns 39 successful October and throwing successful nan towel is simply a beardown possibility.

Joshua, 34, is connected a existent basking streak since losing his world titles to Usyk successful 2022.

The Watford combatant appears to person sewage his swagger back, pinch 3 stoppages successful his past 3 fights - 2 of them outright one-punch knockouts.

He is expected to header astatine Wembley stadium connected 21 September. The frontrunner to look him is home rival Dubois, who is besides connected a comeback trail.

Former world champion and foe Parker is different action for Joshua, considering his caller wins complete Zhang and Wilder.

Dubois, however, is an charismatic action because nan conflict could beryllium upgraded to a world-title matter if nan IBF take to portion Usyk.

Joshua appears to beryllium connected a collision people pinch Fury complete nan adjacent 12 months, sloppy of what happens successful nan Gypsy King's rematch pinch Usyk.

Were Joshua to go a three-time world champion successful nan meantime, aliases should Fury hit Usyk, it would elevate an already highly-anticipated match-up moreover more.

Beyond nan imaginable world title fights, location are plentifulness of British heavyweight prospects to get excited about.

Joe Joyce continues his comeback campaign against Derek Chisora connected 27 July, which promises to beryllium a bruising matter considering some men’s all-out style.

The rematch betwixt Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke is pencilled successful for nan autumn. After a brilliant first brushwood successful April ended successful a draw, it is each to conflict for successful nan 2nd bout.

The undefeated ‘Romford Bull’ Johnny Fisher headlines for nan first clip against Alen Babic connected 6 July successful London, while English heavyweight champion Solomon Dacres defends his title and unbeaten grounds against David Adeleye connected 20 July successful Birmingham.

There is besides Scotland-based Congolese Martin Bakole, who sits atop nan WBA’s heavyweight rankings, while British teenage sensation Moses Itauma will proceed his accelerated emergence and conflict astatine slightest doubly much this year.

The 19-year-old has won each 9 of his bouts, 7 by knockout.