DILLIAN WHYTE has seen his well-earned world title shot hit a stall after the WBC opted against ordering him to fight Tyson Fury.
The British contender launched a legal case to accelerate talks for the WBC to mandate him against champion Fury.
But at the governing bodies’ annual convention in Mexico, they revealed the legal proceedings have to be resolved before Whyte gets his shot.
The 33-year-old still remains a frontrunner to face Fury, with the WBC just needing to officially order the fight.
But, if disaster strikes, here SunSport runs down five different options for the Gypsy King.
Oleksandr Usyk
Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum has done his best to urge Anthony Joshua against rematching Usyk.
It means they could instead unify all the belts against the Ukrainian, 34, and promise Joshua, 32, the winner of that fight.
Arum even went as far to say that would be Fury’s preference, over a domestic clash with Whyte.
But it appears unlikely, with Joshua all-but confirmed for a rematch with Usyk, set to take place before the end of April.
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Anthony Joshua
Without beating Usyk, and reclaiming his unified WBA, IBF and WBO belts, Joshua’s chances of fighting Fury are slim.
But if somehow, Fury has not returned to the ring before AJ’s rematch with Usyk, and the Brit wins, it could set up the Battle of Britain again.
Even after Joshua lost to Usyk, he confirmed he would still fight his English rival and Deontay Wilder, 36, with or without belts.
But until AJ’s business with Usyk is over, talk of fighting Fury needs to be shelved.
Andy Ruiz Jr
Fury has one fight left on his Top Rank deal, having had his last four with the US promotion, all in Las Vegas.
And if he is to close out the deal again in America, with his Wilder trilogy series completed, Ruiz is the second biggest Stateside star.
His shock win over Joshua in 2019 and comeback fight in May has made the Mexican-American outsider, 32, a hot commodity.
But, Arum has been vocal about bringing Fury back to the UK for a homecoming, and there are bigger options for the Gypsy King.
Joe Joyce
Joyce, 36, is the current WBO mandatory challenger, but the WBA and IBF are both set to be called beforehand.
It leaves the unbeaten contender facing a wait for the winner between Usyk – who holds the WBO titles – and former champ Joshua.
Joyce is ranked No3 in the WBC and shares a promoter to Fury in Frank Warren, meaning there is no TV network clash.
Arum also named the former British title holder as a likely opponent alongside Whyte in March.
David Haye
Haye, 41, in 2013 twice pulled out of fighting Fury, meaning their feud was left unresolved.
And it looked to be heading that way forever until the Hayemaker came out of retirement in September for an exhibition.
He beat his good friend Joe Fournier – who he used to promote and manage – over eight rounds.
And afterwards, he called out Fury, despite not fighting professionally since consecutive losses to Tony Bellew in 2017 then 2018.
