The boxing ruling that is a nightmare for Anthony Joshua in his mission to become three-time world champion

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been handed a blow in his hopes of becoming a three-time world champion.

AJ's promoter Eddie Hearn revealed plans to turn their attention to Filip Hrgovic after talks with Deontay Wilder stalled.

Hrgovic, 31, is the IBF mandatory challenger and the next in line to challenge for Oleksandr Usyk's title.

But Usyk has signed for a first ever four-belt undisputed bout with Tyson Fury, which will supersede Hrgovic's mandatory position.

As a result, the Croatian could be called into an "interim" title shot, guaranteeing him a crack at the full version in the future.

Or, if the winner between Fury, 35, and Usyk, 36, was to vacate, Hrgovic would inherit the strap.

So Hearn was ready to shift his focus on to the IBF title route to give AJ a clear road to becoming champion again.

But Swede Otto Wallin has now thrown a spanner in the works.

Wallin, 32, is coming off a win against Murat Gassiev, 29, which is due to put him second in the IBF rankings.

It means should Hrgovic be called into a final eliminator or interim title bout, it would likely be against Wallin and NOT Joshua.

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Fury and Usyk's proposed blockbuster deal in Saudi Arabia is believed to offer the loser a rematch.

So if talks cannot be revived for Joshua, 33, to face Wilder, 37, Hearn revealed that Hrgovic would be an alternative.