Eddie Hearn, promoter for WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs), says a deal is very close for a fight with Alexander Povetkin, who is the mandatory challenger under the World Boxing Association.
Hearn is still in talks to get his man a unification with WBC champion Deontay Wilder, but the two sides are far apart on several key aspects - namely the location of the fight.
Wilder wants the contest to take place in the United States, with a guaranteed offer of $50 million presented to Joshua - who has no issue with taking less money for a fight in the UK.
According Hearn, his father Barry Hearn is currently in New York and is expected to meet up with Shelly Finkel, who is one of Wilder's co-managers, to see if a deal can be reached between the two sides - or else Povetkin would get the nod.
Hearn has already cautioned Wilder several times that his time is running out to get a deal finalized.
Povetkin was already groomed for the UK audience - when he knocked out Olympic bronze medal winner David Price on the undercard of Joshua's last bout, in March, when the British superstar won a twelve round decision over Joseph Parker at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
"I don't like making deadlines because sometimes it gets people's backs up but at some stage soon we have to make a decision," said Hearn to Sky Sports.
"We are close to closing a deal with Povetkin with (Andrey) Ryabinsky and World of Boxing and once the deal is closed, there is no Deontay Wilder.
"Wilder has had the latest offer from us for the last two weeks which was our improved offer and we are still talking to them and in fact, my dad is out in New York at the moment, and he might meet Shelly today. They have our offer so they have to accept it or move on. It's not a case of if you don't accept this offer the fight is dead, we will just fight Povetkin and carry on our negotiations to the next one.
"It has to be the next one, or the one after that. Joshua wants to fight. We've got an opportunity to go in September and Josh is keen to fight in that month and if Wilder wants it, it's there. But I do still believe Wilder will take this offer."