Eddie Hearn has suggested that heavyweight challenger Dillian Whyte could be in line to fight American rival Deontay Wilder.
Whyte lost his WBC interim title to Alexander Povetkin last summer in the finale of the Fight Camp series held at Matchroom’s Brentwood headquarters. A rematch was planned for January but the 41-year-old Russian contracted coronavirus, for which he was hospitalised, and the second fight is now due to take place on March 6.
Current WBC champion Tyson Fury is due to fight Anthony Joshua for what could be a match to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, boxing’s first since Lennox Lewis achieved the same feat in 1999. Hearn believes that Whyte could use any wait for a title fight to take on Wilder should he beat Povetkin.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Hearn said: "The focus is AJ against Fury of course, but Dillian Whyte would put himself in that position for a world championship.
"I love the Deontay Wilder fight.
"Wilder against Whyte is a fight we've talked about a long time. Dillian Whyte called for that fight for about three years and then all of a sudden Deontay Wilder lost, now he's calling for the Dillian Whyte fight.
"The focus for Dillian is to beat Povetkin and become mandatory again, but I can't help thinking that if he can beat Povetkin on March 6, Whyte against Wilder is massive."
Oleksandr Usyk could lay claim to the first title fight in the aftermath of the Joshua vs Fury fight as the WBO mandatory, though he may take on Joe Joyce first.
However, Whyte believes he should be next in line for a fight.
Whyte said to Sky Sports: "I've waited a million years. Why should I not get the title fight next?
"I should have fought for the title already. I've waited long enough. Why should I wait anymore?
"Let's see, this is boxing, a lot of things happen.
"I'll fight anyone. Deontay Wilder is someone that I want to fight and bash up. I believe he's someone that I beat up and knock out, but right now, I'm focused on Alexander Povetkin.
"I don't care about what Wilder is doing. What this guy is doing, what that guy is doing. I just want to focus on Povetkin. I need to deal with him and I need to deal with him in good fashion as well."