Eddie Hearn has insisted that Tyson Fury's trilogy bout with Deontay Wilder 'must happen this year' or else the WBC champion should face Dillian Whyte next.

The Gypsy King comprehensively defeated Wilder in February, but the Bronze Bomber triggered a rematch clause which will see the arch rivals do battle for a third time. 

The third fight was set to take place this summer. However, the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the bout being pushed back, with Fury's US promotor Bob Arum suggesting the fight could take place in February 2021.

That would cause an issue for Fury, who has been told by the WBC he must face mandatory challenger Whyte no later than February and Hearn, who promotes Whyte, is confident his man may get the jump on Wilder if the trilogy bout isn't scheduled soon. 

'Well I'm hearing what we hoped the WBC would enforce, which is the promise that fight has to happen,' he told Sky Sports.

'The official date is before the end of February 2021. Obviously if Wilder-Fury takes place in December, maybe that gets pushed back a little bit.

'Great news for Dillian Whyte who has been pushing so hard, fully deserves this shot more than any fighter in boxing, forget the heavyweight division, but he does have business to attend to on August 22 against Alexander Povetkin.

'That makes that fight even more dangerous, but as far as we're concerned Fury-Wilder must happen this year, and if it doesn't we're ready to go with Whyte against Fury, subject to him beating Povetkin in a couple of weeks' time.'

Meanwhile, Fury and Anthony Joshua have agreed a deal that will see the pair fight each other twice, although they each have business to attend to with regards to mandatory challengers.

While Fury will have to face a date with Whyte before a bout with Joshua can take place, AJ has to take on IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, while the WBO are demanding he face their mandatory challenger, Oleksandr Usyk, should the Ukrainian beat Dereck Chisora in their rescheduled bout.