World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will have to face mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte next if he beats Deontay Wilder later this year, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has confirmed.

Fury became WBC champion back in February when he stopped Wilder in the seventh round in Las Vegas, avenging their controversial draw in December 2018.

Contractually the pair have the right to invoke a rematch clause for a third fight, which is now expected to take place in December due to the coronavirus pandemic delaying the return of crowds.

But Sulaiman is also keen to stress that Whyte needs to receive his shot at the belt and so the winner of Fury-Wilder will have to face him in the early part of 2021.

"The WBC has reviewed every single weight category, considering the pandemic," Sulaiman told Sky Sports.

"We have had the flexibility with our champions and the WBC has approved Fury to fight by the end of the year, if it's announced that it might be December 19, and the winner must make the mandatory defence (Whyte) early next year.

"When the [Fury-Wilder] fight takes place, we will order the pre-negotiations, so it's a process that the promoters negotiate the fight and a date.

"It makes no sense to speculate on a date, but it's going to be early next year when they are able to negotiate, or it goes to a purse bid."

There is also the small matter of Whyte coming through his next fight against dangerous Russian Alexander Povetkin on August 22.

‘The Body Snatcher’ will put his shot at the WBC title on the line when he squares off against the 40-year-old at Eddie Hearn’s ‘Fight Camp’ in Essex.

Whyte has lost just once in 28 fights, with his only defeat coming to Anthony Joshua in December 2015.

Meanwhile, Povetkin has two losses on his record from 38 contests, with his defeats coming against Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko.