TYSON FURY could be stripped of the WBC heavyweight title if he doesn't face the winner of Anthony Joshua's showdown with Deontay Wilder, it's been claimed.
AJ has agreed terms to face The Bronze Bomber in a grudge match over five years in the making, although a venue for the bout has yet to be finalised.
The WBC recently ranked Wilder and Joshua, 37 and 33 respectively, as their No1 and No2 heavyweights – meaning they could slap mandatory status on the fight.
And it's been claimed the Mexican sanctioning body could look to strip Fury of the belt if he refuses to face the winner of the fight.
World Boxing News claims Fury "faces being stripped" of the prestigious green and gold title if he doesn't agree to trade leather with either man.
Fury hasn't defended his WBC crown since his one-sided beatdown of Derek Chisora at Wembley last December.
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And the belt WON'T be on the line in his upcoming controversial crossover clash with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia next month.
The WBC have, however, put a gimmick "Riyadh Champion" belt up for grabs for the Saudi showdown.
Before Fury can worry about potentially being stripped, Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn must first find a site willing to stage his mammoth melee with Wilder.
During an appearance on BBC Five Live, he said: "We've agreed the money. We've agreed everything.
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"We're waiting on the official contract but we won't wait forever."
The Matchroom Boxing chief added: "He [Joshua] is just training away but he wants Wilder.
"If it can't be made, he wants to stay active. If he fights in December, that'll be three fights in eight months which is incredible for him.
"People keep saying he should have one more fight and then fight Wilder, but we don't think so. If it ends up that way, so be it and nothing would surprise me.
"If he fights in December, if he fights Deontay Wilder, if he fights Tyson Fury next – nothing would surprise me.
"There's Filip Hrgovic and there's Andy Ruiz Jr, but it probably won't take place in this country.
"He's had two now on the spin at The O2 Arena, so maybe we go to Madison Square Garden, somewhere in the Middle East. It's just about activity for him."
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