Any potential showdown next year between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua may be a belt down with the WBA set to call Robert Helenius as mandatory challenger.
For the pair to meet Joshua must first progress beyond an uphill task against Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch early next year.
And Fury could be subject to a mandatory challenge from Dillian Whyte with the WBC set to rule on his interim champion status.
But any potential all-British fight between Fury and Joshua could be hindered further with Helenius next in the queue to receive his mandatory shot.
The Finnish heavyweight plans to act on his status according to his promoter Markus Sundman after he earned his title in an eliminator victory.
Sundman told Sky Sports : "Right now we are focused on the WBA mandatory position. Usyk should really be Robert's next bout.
"Robert fought a WBA elimination bout in March 2020 against Adam Kownacki, and he placed a stamp on that victory in the rematch on October 9.
"In the end, of course we have respect for [president] Gilberto [Mendoza] and the WBA, and we think that ultimately they will do the correct thing and formally order Robert as the next mandatory.
"We will do what is necessary to assure Robert's rightful position as Usyk's next WBA mandatory. The WBA mandatory is due next, and that must be Robert."
Joshua will need a much improved performance to stand a chance against Usyk who was oozing with class in a punch-perfect display last month.
Although the Briton currently faces a search for a new trainer in America and has drawn up a three-trainer shortlist for the resounding task.
Will Anthony Joshua ever face Tyson Fury? Let us know your verdict in the comments section below.
Joshua has been backed by Lawrence Okolie to employ Fury's style during his rematch with Wilder to try and regain his unified world titles next year.
"He was in there with a world class fighter, a generational talent," Okolie told the Daily Mail. "It’s not just a case of you doing this and that happens.
"There’s another person in there trying to prevent that and knock you out. There’s stuff AJ can do to try and change the way the fight looks and feels, and I think he will.
"But in terms of his performance, he tried his best and it wasn’t good enough on the day. You have to just say Usyk was great that night and AJ has to work on certain things to beat that style.
"As you saw with Fury and Wilder, Wilder is an exceptional fighter, an exceptional puncher. But Fury decided, you know what, I’m 277-pounds and I’m going to let you know it. He pushed him back, he rallied through the hard rounds, ground him down and got the stoppage. I believe AJ can do something similar."
Fury is fresh off the back of an astonishing victory over Deontay Wilder and climbed off the canvas twice in a historic trilogy battle.
But he has hinted at retirement despite facing the prospect of a domestic return against Joshua's Matchroom stablemate Whyte.
