The World Boxing Council (WBC) has given an order for negotiations to begin between Dillian Whyte and Tyson Fury for a mandatory fight, according to Sky Sports.
WBC had ordered Fury to fight Whyte in October if he could not agree on an undisputed world title fight within 30 days.
Whyte will now attempt to enforce a mandatory title fight against Fury next year.
“[Tyson] Fury has been mandated to fight me twice. He asked for the WBC ‘Diamond’ belt to fight me, but he ran away when it was agreed. He just keeps making excuses.
“Hopefully now he’s got no choice. What’s he going to do? Throw the belt in the bin and run away from more money than he got to fight [Deontay] Wilder?” Whyte said in a recent interview.
WBC orders Tyson Fury to fight Dillian Whyte
