• Fury could face WBC champion in Las Vegas or New York • Frank Warren: ‘I expect him to fight him before end of the year’

Negotiations for Tyson Fury to challenge the WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder, in December have begun, according to the British boxer, with the fight possibly taking place in the US. Fury, 29, fights for the second time since beginning his comeback when he meets the little-known Italian Francesco Pianeta at Belfast’s Windsor Park on 18 August.

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He has made little secret of his desire to fight either of the division’s world champions, Wilder and Anthony Joshua, and insists he and his promoter, Frank Warren, are ready to take advantage of the breakdown in negotiations for a Joshua-Wilder unification fight.

Fury will have fought only four unremarkable rounds, against the Albanian Sefer Seferi, in little under three years by the time of his bout with Pianeta. Joshua fights Russia’s Alexander Povetkin on 22 September but there remains hope that terms will be agreed for him to fight Wilder in April.

The 32-year-old Wilder’s desire for a high-profile opponent and his increased value in the context of a fight with Fury could make an agreement likelier and Fury said on social media: “I can confirm that me and Deontay Wilder are in negotiations, very close to being done. Negotiations are very strong for December. We’re almost done for this deal.

“I won’t be overlooking Francesco Pianeta. He’s going to give me the right fight and the right work to prepare me for Deontay Wilder. I’ll flatten him first and then Wilder, let’s dance.

“You’ve been dealing with Eddie Hearn and Joshua but I’m a man of my word. If I say I’ll fight you, I’ll fight you. Prepare well, train hard, let’s get the deal done. I’ll knock Pianeta into next week, I’ll knock you spark out too.”

In a separate post he then revealed the potential Wilder fight would take place in the US, as the champion would prefer, adding: “Next stop Belfast, then after that it’s Las Vegas or New York.”

Warren told the BBC: “We are close to making this happen. Is it too soon? The next fight will give us the answer. The way Tyson is looking in the gym, he’s lost another couple of stone. He’s very focused.”

The promoter said the fight could take place in November or December. He said Fury was prepared for a fight outside the UK. “Tyson doesn’t care where it happens. He’ll fly to the States if needed.

“If I didn’t think he was ready I wouldn’t put him forward. If he comes through the Pianeta fight in August, I expect him to fight Wilder before the end of the year. He wants it. He feels good about everything. He’s in a good place at the moment both physically and mentally.”