By Terence Dooley

London’s Anthony Joshua ripped the IBF heavyweight title away from America’s Charles Martin earlier this month to enter the world title fray. Joshua moved to 16-0 (16) courtesy of the second-round KO win and is now assessing his options ahead of a voluntary defence at London's O2 Arena on June 25, but he also has a stiff mandatory test looming in the form of either Joseph Parker or Carlos Takam.

Martin won the vacant title after Tyson Fury opted not to make his mandatory defence against Vyacheslav Glazkov so that he could honour his agreement to a rematch against former world Champion Wladimir Klitschko, which led to him being stripped of the belt within weeks of winning it. Martin won the vacant strap via an injury-induced third-round TKO over Glazkov in January.

The 29-year-old southpaw made a voluntary defence against Joshua three months after winning the title, so the newly crowned holder has a state of grace to squeeze in a defence before the IBF notify him of his mandatory obligation against the winner of their final eliminator between Joseph Parker and Carlos Takam on May 21.

“Anthony Joshua was not the mandatory challenger when he beat Charles Martin,” explained Lindsey Tucker, the IBF’s Championships Chairman, when clarifying the mandatory position for BoxingScene.

“Therefore he gets nine months. In reality, he only gets seven months because we must notify him 60 days before the mandatory due date. Joshua can fight anyone in the top 15 in an optional defence of the title up until November 8, 2016.”

Ironically, Joshua is in the same position WBC holder Deontay Wilder was in when he first fought for the title as “AJ” has yet to do the distance so his first distance fight will be a 12 rounder, provided he continues to hold and defend his title.

David Haye found himself in a similar position when defending his EBU cruiserweight belt against Ismail Abdoul in July 2006, but the “Hayemaker” boxed well within himself to get the rounds under his belt that night.

Joshua, though, has shown no signs of slowing up or letting opponents off the hook when he has them in trouble, so it may be some time before the 26-year-old titlist is taken the full championship distance. However, Parker or Takam could give him some much-needed rounds when his mandatory comes around.

Please send news and views to @Terryboxing