The much anticipated fight between Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua might not be happening soon following a WBO move.

Anthony Joshua

The anticipated fight between Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua might not be happening soon following a WBO move. Anthony Joshua’s fight with Deontay Wilder has been hit by a new obstacle… as the WBO announces plan to issue him a mandatory challenger, The Sun reports.

Joshua was hoping to meet WBC heavyweight champion Wilder next April at Wembley, but should the WBO hand him a mandatory that is unlikely to go ahead.

As talks about a potential fight intensified, the WBO released a statement to Sky Sports. It read,“With respect to our WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, be advised that Joshua has 180 days counting from the date of his last compulsory defence (after the Alexander Povetkin bout) to fulfil his mandatory defence obligations.