A potential rematch between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua would have to happen by April 22 next year, according to the IBF's rules; Dubois' mandatory title defence is likely to be against the winner of Martin Bakole's IBF final eliminator against Agit Kabayel.
The IBF will permit their heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois to rematch Anthony Joshua. But there is a deadline on it.
A Dubois vs Joshua would have to happen before a date in April of next year.
Dubois knocked out Joshua last month at Wembley Stadium in sensational style to defend the title.
For Dubois, who was elevated from Interim titlist to world champion prior to that fight, the contest with Joshua was actually a mandatory title defence.
Under the IBF's rules, Dubois now has nine months within which he can make a voluntary defence, opening the door for a Joshua rematch, as long as it happens by April 22.
Rule 5.A.2 of the IBF's regulations regarding the heavyweight division states that "all optional defences, and any and all other bouts, by a champion shall be concluded at least 60 days prior to the date the champion's mandatory is due".
After this date, Dubois must fulfil a mandatory title defence, which is likely to be against the winner of Martin Bakole's IBF final eliminator with Agit Kabayel.
Dubois will be notified on approximately April 22 of his June 21 mandatory.
The IBF regulations state the champion "shall be obligated to mandatorily defend his championship within intervals of no more than nine months against the leading available contender in the heavyweight division as designated by the championships chairman".
The IBF has, however, stated that Dubois would be free to pursue a unification bout after this date.
The only unification fight available to Dubois would be against the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch and thus a shot at the undisputed heavyweight title.
Usyk will fight Fury in Saudi Arabia on December 21, with the WBC, WBO and WBA belts at stake.
Plans for AJ vs Dubois II?
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, which stages the Riyadh Season events, revealed that a major fight card is being put together that will pit rival promoters Queensberry and Matchroom against each other.
In June Queensberry beat Matchroom in a '5 vs 5' team match. A second version of that event is being worked on for February which could involve the Dubois-Joshua rematch.
Previously Alalshikh told Sky Sports: "See in February again Queensberry against Matchroom, 5 vs 5, we will finish it maybe this week with a big surprise and then let's see the result about this fight, the result of the big fight December 21, [Oleksandr] Usyk-Tyson [Fury].
"Joshua, Dubois, Tyson, Usyk, everyone, everyone on the line.
"This is what we want. We want the big fights and to see who's really the best fighters in each division."
Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua, previously told Sky Sports: "I know that he is leaning towards the rematch because he wants to win the world heavyweight title.
"Fighting [Deontay] Wilder, [or] waiting for Fury, and then you've got all next year bubbling around not really fighting for the world heavyweight title.
"If it's solely down to AJ, which it will be at the end of the day, I think it's going to be very hard to talk him out of taking the rematch."
