Anthony Joshua could fight Joe Joe Joyce in Nigeria, claims Joyce’s manager.
Sam Jones foresees a situation where Joyce becomes one of Joshua’s mandatory challengers later down the line, teeing up an event in Africa.
Joyce’s next fight is on July 24 when he faces Carlos Takam, while Joshua is now obliged to defend the WBO belt - with his IBF and WBA titles also on the line - against the governing body’s mandatory challenger, Oleksandr Usyk. A fight is expected some time in September.
"There is a possibility Joe and Joshua could fight in Nigeria," Jones told Sky Sports.
"They are both of Nigerian descent so that could be huge.
"If AJ needs a dance partner in Nigeria, look no further. That fight would be something very, very special.
"Joe would relish the thought of fighting Joshua in Nigeria, but he also would fight Tyson Fury in Las Vegas or in a stadium in the UK."
Fury and Joshua may yet find a way to their undisputed clash but it depends on Joshua negotiating his challenge from Usyk, and Fury’s own title defence, for his WBC belt against former champion Deontay Wilder.
These fights meant that Joyce’s proposed eliminator with Uysk fell through, which led to his clash with Takam to keep him fresh. He last fought Daniel Dubois in 2020, when he took away the young Londoner’s undisputed record.
"Joe will be mandatory to the world title," claimed Jones.
"Hopefully Joshua and Fury get it on, and Joe will get the winner.
"Joe's time will come. He wants to see Joshua vs Fury too - there needs to be an undisputed title fight. He doesn't care who wins."
"What is Joyce, in the prime of his life at 35, going to get from fighting a no-hoper?
"We want to build on the Dubois fight against a name that people know, and someone who will have a go.
"Joe is in a great position and we could take an easier fight but he isn't like that. Joe wouldn't be up for fighting a no-hoper.
"Takam is notorious for having a go. He's dangerous, he has operated at the world level for a long time."