Anthony Joshua's intentions to face Tyson Fury in a huge stadium showdown some time in 2021 have left a number of top heavyweight contenders jockeying for position in the event that it leads to one of Joshua's several title belts becoming up for grabs.
If "AJ" vs "The Gipsy King" is indeed signed and sealed next year, and if the WBO's mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk opts to pursue his title opportunity rather than allow it to be delayed, it is likely the governing body will remove their version of the championship from Joshua and deny the all-British clash of titans from unfiying the maximum-weight division.
Currently, Usyk's old foe from the amateurs Joe Joyce would be in a great position to land the spot in the opposite corner for any hypothetical bout for the vacated title, after he put the first blemish on Daniel Dubois' perfect record in November.
However Joseph Parker — a former WBO champion up until his title loss to Joshua back on Mar. 31, 2018 — appears to believe he can put forth a better case to meet Usyk, if that is indeed the way things unfold.
Joyce is ranked No.2 by the WBO for now, behind No.1 contender Usyk. But Parker's manager, David Higgins, told Sky Sports that victory over fellow New Zealander Junior Fa in their rescheduled fight on Feb. 27 would swing things in his client's favour.
"You have to look at the resumes of the two fighters [Parker and Joyce]," he said. "Joseph Parker is a former WBO world champion. He has got some wins on his resume, including Carlos Takam, Andy Ruiz and Alexander Dimitrenko.
"He took Anthony Joshua the distance. If Joe beats Junior Fa - and remember Fa is the current WBO No.6 - so if Joe beats Fa, I think on balance of the evidence, he would have to go to No.2.
"But obviously we would lobby the good people of the WBO and that would be at the discretion of their ratings committee. It's an interesting question, but we would hope to go back to No 2."
It also brings up an interesting follow-up question: should Joshua actually decide to fulfil his WBO duties before signing up to face Fury, could a fight between Joyce and the winner of Parker vs. Fa go on to give us a clear contender for what could then be the undisputed heavyweight championship in late 2021 or early 2022?
Higgins refuses to rule it out.
"Don't get too comfortable, and Parker has shown that he will fight anyone," Higgins continued. "He has never shied away. Jumped in with Dillian Whyte, straight after Joshua on a short camp, and he's happy to fight Whyte again. The same goes for any of the names Joseph would fight."
While the political side of the many world championship versions will need to be untangled before things become clear, one detail is already obvious: the heavyweight division is set for its most exciting period in a fair while, barring disaster.