Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua facing deadline that will determine their heavyweight futures

Tyson Fury, Dillian Whyte, Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk could learn their fate in the coming hours with huge decisions at the top of the heavyweight division expected to be made before the day is out.

A rematch between Joshua and Usyk looked set for spring after the Ukrainian put in a masterful performance to win the IBF, WBO and WBA titles last September.

Whyte meanwhile is the mandatory challenger for Fury’s WBC title, a decision confirmed by the governing body late last year.

No agreement has been struck for either fight as of yet however with a major twist emerging in recent days.

Reports have suggested Joshua is considering a huge £15million offer to step aside and allow Usyk and Fury to fight first in Dubai or Saud Arabia in a battle that will6 crown the heavyweight division’s first undisputed champion since 1999.

Whyte however remains a factor and any deal for Fury vs Usyk would surely require a fee for both Joshua and the Brixton heavyweight to step aside to make it happen.

Reports have suggested it could cost £5million for Whyte to step aside –  bringing the cost of the deal to £20million before Fury and Usyk are paid a penny.

Fury and Whyte meanwhile have until 6pm tonight [Wednesday 26 January] to privately agree to their mandated WBC title showdown.

The free negotiation period has been extended three times this month but if no deal is agreed tonight, purse bids will be introduced.

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Purse bids mean any promoter can enter the negotiations to finance and stage the fight.

If an