JOE JOYCE has demanded the winner between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk after beating Carlos Takam.
Joyce has raced to 13-0 in his career since turning professional in 2017, a year after his Olympic silver medal.
And he put another credible name on his record after coming from behind to stop Takam, 40, in the sixth round.
Now Joyce, 35, believes it has set him up for a world title fight having kept his mandatory position with the WBO.
He said: “What I want is AJ or Usyk. I don’t need any more tests. I’ve picked the levels up and strategically moved.
“I’ve started at the deep end and I’ve carried on at a steady trajectory. I’m ready now.”
Joyce was in line to fight Ukrainian Usyk, 34, for the WBO ‘interim’ title while Joshua, 31, faced Tyson Fury.
But those plans were scrapped when Fury, 32, was ordered to face Deontay Wilder, 35, instead to complete their contracted trilogy.
AJ was then mandated against Usyk with the pair set to headline on September 25 at Tottenham’s stadium.
Joyce missed out on a mega-fight but was elevated to No1 with the WBO and will have to bide his time for a shot at the gold.
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Promoter Frank Warren added: “He’s the mandatory challenger, he’s number one now.
“Obviously AJ and Usyk are getting it on in September, then he becomes the mandatory challenger to the winner.
“I think what will happen, provided AJ wins and Tyson Fury wins, I think they’ll fight first, but the winner will have to fight him.
“We’ll see what happens, or if the title gets vacated then he’ll fight for that.
“He’s only had 13 fights as a pro and he’s in the position he’s in, which is brilliant.
“He’ll be out again some time in October if that’s what he wants, that’s what he’ll have.”
