The team behind former undisputed cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk are confident that a deal will get finalized for a mandatory fight with IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Usyk's handlers see "no visible obstacles" to reaching an agreement in the coming days.
Last week, the World Boxing Organization ordered Joshua to make a mandatory defense against Usyk.
The sanctioning body issued that ruling after Joshua's planned unification, with WBC champion Tyson Fury, fell apart.
Joshua and Fury were close to a deal to collide on August 14 in Saudi Arabia - but then last Monday an arbitrator ordered Fury to fight Deontay Wilder, who earlier this year began a legal action to enforce a rematch clause from their February 2020 encounter.
While Usyk is by far the frontrunner to face Joshua next, the British star's promoter, Eddie Hearn, admits they are exploring other options as well.
Joshua and Usyk don't have a lot of time, as the WBO gave them until May 31 to reach an agreement - or the sanctioning body will order a purse bid.
At the moment Hearn is negotiating the details with Usyk's handlers.
"We are in the middle of negotiations now and things look optimistic," Usyk's promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports.
"As long as I am informed there are no visible obstacles to the deal not [taking] place, hopefully, it will be completed within the rendered timing."
Usyk was in action back in October, when he won a tough twelve round unanimous decision over division veteran Derek Chisora.
Joshua returned to the ring two months later, when he knocked out the IBF's mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria.
