Sadly I'm quite sure the IBF do. They'll no doubt rocket him up the rankings after he gets a robbery of a decision against someone in their top 15.
Yeah, the IBF will surely put him near the top, possibly for the reason you described. But on a serious note, I wouldn't mind seeing him in with Joshua upon his return. That would be a decent stay busy fight for AJ to take, but who knows how things will look a year or more from now.