Image: Dillian Whyte could be closing on a rematch with Anthony Joshua

Dillian Whyte and Kubrat Pulev have been instructed to fight by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), according to Eddie Hearn.

Hearn revealed the news on Monday night on social media by tweeting he had received "a letter from the IBF ordering a final eliminator for the mandatory position between heavyweights Whyte and Pulev".

"Interesting times for the division!" added Hearn.

It would be a showdown that could lead to the winner becoming the next mandatory challenger to Anthony Joshua's IBF belt.

Dillian Whyte produced a show-reel knockout when he beat Lucas Browne at the 02 Arena

Joshua holds the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles after outpointing Joseph Parker on Saturday in Cardiff.


The Briton took the WBO belt from the New Zealander to add it to his WBA 'super' and IBF titles after going the distance for the first time in a wide unanimous decision victory at the Principality Stadium.

After Joshua's victory, Whyte said he was interested in fighting Alexander Povetkin. Whyte said: "I'd fight him next. I just told him. He said he'd fight me next. Hearn said he'd make it."

Povetkin is the mandatory challenger to the WBA belt, and after knocking out David Price on the Joshua-Parker undercard, was called out by Whyte.

Whyte is currently the No 1 contender to WBC champion Deontay Wilder's title and one option is for him to switch his attention to a version of the WBA belt to eventually secure his rematch with Joshua, to whom he lost in December 2015.

Whyte brutally knocked out Lucas Browne a week before Joshua's win against Parker.

Pulev pulled out of fighting Joshua in October 2017 after the Bulgarian injured his shoulder in sparring. Joshua went onto beat his replacement Carlos Takam.