Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte have moved a step closer to a heavyweight showdown.
The pair have engaged in a war of words on social media recently but a fight looked unlikely after Fury said he would only fight him for the WBC Diamond belt.
But Whyte's promoter Eddie Hearn claims a deal has been struck in principle, assuming Fury beats Tom Schwarz next month and Whyte beats Oscar Rivas on July 20.
"We wrote to the WBC and said. 'Great news, Tyson Fury will fight Dillian Whyte for the Diamond belt’, so we’re in for that fight," he told iFL TV.
"After he beats Rivas, he will become the mandatory - that’s what we’ve requested - but Deontay [Wilder] will be allowed another fight in October or whenever he’s going to fight. We’ll fight Fury next and then after Dillian beats Fury, he fights Wilder.
"That fight has got to happen next, unless Tyson pulls out. But he’s not going to pull out, he’s said that he’ll fight him.
"That fight is on, it’s been agreed by both sides, Fury has to beat Schwarz, Dillian has to beat Rivas, and it’s on.
"The only way this fight doesn’t happen is if one of them pulls out, and we’ve accepted the fight. He’s already said it on interviews [that Fury will accept the fight].
"They will write to him and say ‘you are now in a negotiation period to fight Dillian Whyte for the Diamond title."
Whyte previously told talkSPORT: "I’ve been trying to fight Tyson Fury for ages, I would love to fight Tyson Fury.
"It's a big fight – he’s one of the best fighters in the world. He brings certain challenges to the fight game that no other fighter brings; his height, his awkwardness and his boxing ability."
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