Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, could see Deontay Wilder being squeezed out from the world title picture until 2022.
Joshua, provided he beats mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev on December 12, plans to move forward with a two-fight agreement to unify with Tyson Fury, who holds the WBC's world title.
Wilder was stopped in seven rounds by Fury back in February at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
He exercised an immediate rematch clause, with a third fight against Fury being pushed back several times due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The third fight was being mentioned for a tentative date of December 19, but the venue and location was never finalized.
Fury and his handlers have recently made it clear that Wilder's rematch clause had "expired" - and now they plan to move in a different direction.
Wilder's co-manager, Shelly Finkel, disagrees with their position.
Wilder has been unusually quiet, with no statements being made in several months.
Fury intends to return to the ring on December 5, in the UK, with a voluntary defense.
Because Fury and Joshua could face each other twice in 2021 - Wilder would have to wait for a title shot until at least 2022.
"Wilder? I don't know any fighter that wouldn't want the rematch," Hearn told Sky Sports. "But I want to hear him. He's gone missing.
"[Fury's American promoter] Bob Arum says the contract has expired? What sort of contract was this? We're coming off a global pandemic and the force majeure would cover them. It's all really weird.
"Wilder has missed the boat. He won't get a shot at the world title until 2022 onwards because we are going to have two fights [with Fury] next year if we beat Pulev. Maybe he is done. You wouldn't hold it against him. But I don't understand the situation."
