DILLIAN WHYTE is in line for an end of year blockbuster against Deontay Wilder or Andy Ruiz Jr – after enjoying a summer break in America.
The British fan-favourite put his career on the line in March, as he knocked out Alexander Povetkin in his must-win rematch.
It came after he was stunned by the Russian, 41, in August by rolling the dice and staying active at the top of the heavyweight division.
With a possible wait to face either Anthony Joshua, 31, or Tyson Fury, 32, who are still in negotiations, Whyte, 32, is set to make his return in the US.
A win would build his brand Stateside, while lining him up with America’s top two talents.
Eddie Hearn told SunSport: “I had a chat with him the other day.
“I feel like he’s been massively under pressure in all these big fights for a long, long time.
“I feel like he needs to go and enjoy himself and by doing that, go to the US and raise his profile in a good fight in New York in the summer or something like that, that’s what we’re looking at.
“I think realistically the bigger fight with Dillian is going to come at the end of the year. Whether that is Ruiz or Wilder.
“I don’t think Wilder knows what he’s doing. He needs to get back and fight. We’ll see.”
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Whyte has won plaudits for his love of risky matchmaking, with credible wins over Povetkin, Joseph Parker, Derek Chisora and Oscar Rivas.
The mix of ex-champions, experienced campaigners and fellow contenders means he has earned his long-awaited shot at the title the hard way.
But with the threat of AJ and Fury occupying the belts until their double header is completed, Whyte can be afforded a slight step down across the pound.
Hearn said: “You’ve got Jermaine Franklin, who’s a US heavyweight, 20-0, he’s fighting Stephan Shaw, who is a 14-0 heavyweight.
“The winner of that could be an option.”
Another name is Trevor Bryan, 31, currently the WBA’s secondary ‘Regular’ champion.
It would offer Whyte a different way into title contention, while earning him his first piece of gold at world level.
Promoter Hearn said: “It’s not a mega-fight but it’s a very credible fight, ‘Regular’ title, Dillian would love to win that fight, that’s an option as well.”
Whyte was ranked the WBC’s No1 challenger for over 1,000 days without receiving a shot at the title, which was held by Wilder, 35.
After he beat Rivas, 33, in July 2019, he was finally instated as mandatory, but one left uppercut from Povetkin saw the status go up in smoke.
With Whyte set to again be playing the waiting game, Hearn plans for him to remain busy, while taking the pressure off slightly.
That will involve potentially hitting the road, adding more chapters to an already storied career.
He explained: “It’s a bit of a waiting game with the WBC, but he knows he’s back in position.
“He’s just gotta stay active, and by staying active I don’t think he should go back into the UK.
“Everyone has seen him in the UK in big fights, that’s what you expect from Dillian Whyte.
“UK fans are not going to be happy for Dillian Whyte to take a couple of lesser fights.
“But to do that with a story by going to America, we can do it maybe internationally, that’s something that will appeal to him.”
