Friday 6 January 2017 06:57, UK
David Haye has edged closer to a shot at Anthony Joshua's heavyweight world title, the IBF have confirmed.
The 36-year-old former world champion is currently preparing for a big domestic clash against Tony Bellew at The O2 on March 4, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
But Haye has remained in contention for a world title fight and sits just behind Joshua's mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev in the IBF rankings.
The winner of Joshua's world title unification clash with Wladimir Klitschko on April 29, also on Sky Sports Box Office, will be ordered to take an immediate title defence against Pulev, leaving Haye as the next challenger in line.
IBF Championships chairman Lindsey E Tucker told Sky Sports: "Joshua asked to fight Eric Molina, we approved that fight with the condition that the winner had to fight Pulev.
"They came back with this unification, which takes priority over the mandatory, so we have to wait.
"Whoever wins between Klitschko and Joshua, we're expecting them to fight Pulev next."
With the WBA also expected to enforce a mandatory defence for the Joshua-Klitschko winner against Luis Ortiz, the champion could even be forced to vacate either the IBF or WBA 'super' titles.
Discussing a possible fight for a vacant IBF belt, Tucker said: "Under our rules, it's the two highest rated available fighters. Pulev who is sitting at No 2, he would be one of them.
"Whoever is sitting at No 3, they would get the first choice, or refusal, and we would continue down the list.
"Klitschko is No 3 and Haye is No 4. Theoretically yes, it would go to Pulev and Haye, assuming Haye was available and wasn't contracted to fight somebody else."
