Eddie Hearn, promoter for heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte, does not want the World Boxing Council to make Tyson Fury a 'franchise' champion.
Whyte is the WBC's interim champion and the mandatory challenger to Fury's world title.
Pursuant to an order that was issued in 2019 by the WBC, Whyte must receive his mandatory shot by February of 2021.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Whyte had taken legal action against the WBC to enforce his mandatory shot.
In recent weeks, there has been more talk of a unification next year between Fury and WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO champion Anthony Joshua.
Fury is currently scheduled to face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy fight before the end f year. Whyte still has a fight coming up, likely in August, with former WBA champion Alexander Povetkin.
Both Fury and his promoters have expressed very little interest in facing Whyte in early 2021. They would rather pursue a two-fight agreement with Joshua.
If push comes to shove, there is a possibility that Fury could be given the status of 'franchise' champion - and in turn Whyte would be elevated to full champion.
But Hearn is not in favor of that scenario. He hopes to get the Fury-Whyte situation sorted out, and then focus on the two-fight agreement between Fury and Joshua.
"We don't want the WBC to make Fury 'franchise' champion. Let him take care of his mandatory just like Joshua's taking care of his… We don't want to be elevated from 'interim' champ. He wants to fight the champion, he wants to fight Fury," Hearn told Boxing Social.
"Dillian Whyte actually has to take priority, in my opinion, over Anthony Joshua, to get that shot. We will do everything we can to deliver that."
