Anthony Joshua facing off with Francis Ngannou

Tyson Fury will now fight Oleksandr Usyk on May 18.

Fury was due to face Usyk three weeks beforehand until he was forced to pull out with a horror cut sustained in sparring.

The four-belt unification – the first in heavyweight history – has since been postponed to May 18 back in Riyadh.

Both have agreed to forfeit £10MILLION of their own cash if they are to withdraw for any reason.

And Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn insisted AJ will be ready to pounce as a late replacement if lightening indeed strikes twice.

Hearn told talkSPORT: “We’ll be ready.

“The amazing thing with Anthony is he will be boxing four times in 11 months, which has been brilliant for him.

“It’s so refreshing for his career after so many periods of inactivity through Covid and dealing with big stadium fights and mandatory obligations and people messing around.

“He will need a rest at some point, but if he comes through Ngannou well and that opportunity presented itself, I would think he’d be ready to fight Fury or Usyk.”

Fury, 35, and Usyk, 37, have a two-fight deal which promises a rematch will follow.

So with all four belts tied up, Joshua, 34, could have to look elsewhere after his bout with Ngannou, 35.

Filip Hrgovic, 31, is the current IBF mandatory challenger for the belt held by Usyk and next in line for a shot.

So AJ could face the Croatian for either the vacated belt or the chance to challenge the winner between Fury and Usyk.

Joshua could be lined up to fight Filip Hrgovic.