Hearn: WBO is next mandatory for Anthony Joshua

As has been speculated by more than a few, a heavyweight title defense between Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte could wind up being the next fight for the British world champion. In an interview with Sky Sports, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn says he believes Whyte could end up being named Joshua’s next mandatory challenger.

“The WBO is next [mandatory for Joshua], so it’s all down to what the WBO decide,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “They are going to review it at their convention, which is right at the end of October.

“Dillian Whyte is probably the frontrunner right now for the WBO mandatory, and then after that it’s IBF mandatory, which is the winner of Hughie Fury against Pulev. That’s probably not going to come round until the end of 2019.”

Although Hearn has been publicly saying that he’s interested in staging a undisputed heavyweight title unification between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder next April, there have been others who’ve been suggesting that Hearn really wants a Joshua-Whyte rematch for that date.

At this point we won’t know for sure if Whyte will get that mandatory position from the WBO until the annual convention takes place, but it really wouldn’t turn out to be a shocking turn of events.