Anthony Joshua’s hopes of fighting for a world title in 2016 have taken a step closer.
The unbeaten Watford fighter has been offered a potential IBF world title eliminator fight against Cameroonian heavyweight Carlos Takam.
The 26-year-old, who has 15 straight knock-outs in the division, would then be in a position to have a crack at the IBF champion Charles Martin.
Sky Sports report that Joshua could be matched with the 35-year-old Takam after German fighter Erkan Teper, who is ranked higher, tested positive for a banned substance.
The IBF is waiting on B test sample results before sanctioning the Joshua-Takam bout, which would see the winner become mandatory challenger for Martin.
IBF championships chairman Lindsey E Tucker told Sky Sports: “Teper and Takam are the next two, but if there is a problem with either one, we would go to Joshua
“If Teper is out, yes it will be Takam and Joshua. They will be fighting for the No 1 position, which is the mandatory challenge.”
But this is not the only potential fight on the table for rising star Joshua and a number of fighters are queuing up to take a shot at him.
Former world title contender Dereck Chisora is just one of the names hoping for a big money fight with the former Olympian – and that bout could be for the vacant European strap.
David Haye would jump at the chance to claim a huge scalp and unbeaten New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker has also called him out.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is expected to announce who is up next for the former Olympian, who is booked to return to the ring on April 9 at the 02 Arena, in the coming days.
Hearn told Sky Sports: “We have opportunities everywhere and a list of fighters calling AJ out longer than my arm. Stay tuned for next week’s announcement.”
