By Edward Chaykovsky

The British Boxing Board of Control  have ordered Dillian Whyte and Hughie Fury to face each other for the vacant British heavyweight title, which was vacated by Anthony Joshua who captured the IBF heavyweight title last month.

Whyte challenged Joshua for the same vacant title back in December at the O2 Arena. After stunning Joshua early, Whyte faded down the stretch and was knocked out in seven rounds.

Robert Smith, the chairman of the British Boxing Board of Control, told Sky Sports: "The purse bids are due in June, to take place by the end of September. The purse bids are due on June 8, however, they have between now and June 8 to negotiate the private deal if they wish."

Whyte will take a tuneup fight on June 25th as part of the undercard to Anthony Joshua's first defense of the IBF title against Dominic Breazeale. 

Fury will also stay busy, with a fight planned on July 9th as part of the Tyson Fury-Wladimir Klitschko II undercard in Manchester.

Should Whyte or Fury turn down the fight, then there are two eliminators that were ordered and one of those contenders could step in to fight for the vacant belt. Dave Allen was ordered face Sam Sexton for the vacant English belt, and Gary Cornish is set to face Ian Lewison.

Fury (20-0, 10KOs) was in action two weeks ago, when he won a seven round technical decision over veteran Fred Kassi. He suffered a very bad cut above his left eye from an accidental clash of heads and the contest went to the scorecards.

Whyte (16-1, 13KOs) had shoulder surgery for an injury suffered during the loss to Joshua and needed several months to rehab.

If they both accept, the winner of the fight will position himself for several lucrative opportunities in what is becoming a very loaded division in the UK.