Eddie Hearn, promoter for Dillian Whyte, has warned WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder that he should face the British contender sooner than later.
Whyte, who last week in scored a brutal sixth round knockout of Lucas Browne at the O2 Arena in London, is currently the number one ranked contender to Wilder's title.
Wilder was in action earlier this month, when he survived near disaster in the seventh round to score a knockout over undefeated contender Luis Ortiz in the tenth.
Hearn expects the World Boxing Council, at some point in 2018, to order Wilder to make a mandatory defense against Whyte.
If they make a deal now, Hearn is willing to offer up a $4 million package and a rematch clause.
Once the WBC issues their order, there is nothing that obligates Whyte, as the mandatory challenger, to agree to an immediate rematch.
"Wilder should understand that if he fights Whyte now, he'll get a rematch clause. If he fights Whyte as a mandatory, he won't," Hearn said to Sky Sports. "It makes sense for Wilder to box him now.
But Hearn understands that Wilder is more interested in a unification with IBF, IBO, WBA world champion, Anthony Joshua, who collides with WBO champion Joseph Parker on Saturday night in Cardiff.
"Wilder doesn't want to fight Whyte because it's risky, and he could make more money fighting Joshua," Hearn said. "But if Wilder goes straight into the Joshua fight, it doesn't happen until October, November, December.
"Joshua could box in the interim, then still fight in November or December. So Whyte vs Wilder wouldn't alter [Joshua vs Wilder]. If Wilder can't win, Whyte would fight Joshua in an undisputed title fight. Anthony was really impressed with Dillian's performance last week."
Wilder is open to the idea of facing Whyte - and told BoxingScene.com that he would consider that contest - if a Joshua fight was guaranteed in the contract and takes place next.