By Yuri Tarantin
The mandatory challenger for the IBF world heavyweight title is Ukrainian contender Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov (21-0-1, 13KOs). The unbeaten boxer could end up facing WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on January 16th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
But now an even tastier option has come up. Tyson Fury caused a huge stir in the boxing world on Saturday night in Germany, where he won a twelve round unanimous decision over heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko to capture the IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO world belts.
There is a rematch clause between Klitschko and Fury. If the second fight doesn't happen, at least for Fury's next outing, then Glazkov may press for his mandatory shot. Klitschko was expected to make his IBF mandatory next. Fury was the mandatory under the WBA and WBO.
"Glazkov is the mandatory challenger in line for the IBF, and now this title was taken from Klitschko by Tyson Fury. We also have the possibility to box with Wilder in January. We are currently in negotiations - the next opponent will either be Wilder or Fury. But at the moment we do not know the details of the contract with respect to a rematch with Klitschko [and Fury], but it's possible to carry out this mandatory defense. We are waiting for some clarity on the Briton," said Glazkov's manager Egis Klimas.
"The option with Wilder on January 16 still remains, and it should be solved this week. But we of course are interesting in meeting with Fury. I think the fight would be interesting also from a financial point of view. I think Glazkov is ready to box in a foreign territory for the title [with Fury], which could take place in England. But a date [for that fight] is hard to say, because Fury just took over the title on Saturday. We need to get some clarification [on what he will do]."
Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru