Promoter Bob Arum says Tyson Fury would prefer to face Oleksandr Usyk in an undisputed heavyweight title decider than Dillian Whyte. 

Fury was expected to receive confirmation of his next WBC title fight on Tuesday night following the annual meeting between the presidents of the IBF, WBA and WBO. 

However, the WBC chose not to order a mandatory heavyweight title fight for their belt - giving the Gypsy King the option to plan an interim fight in the New Year.   

Whyte and his promoter Eddie Hearn were confident that Fury would have had to accept him as the next challenger for his world heavyweight title following the discussion on Tuesday. 

However, the organisation declined to make that decision at their annual convention in Mexico City - meaning Whyte will have to wait longer for a fight to be sanctioned. 

US-based promoter Arum explained why Fury's mandatory challenger was not named. He told Sky Sports: 'Whyte's people had brought an arbitration proceeding against the WBC. The WBC said they would not grant Whyte a mandatory position while the arbitration is pending. 

'That was appropriate. Fury may end up fighting Whyte, we'll see.

'Whyte is an excellent fighter. When the time comes, and it will come soon, for Tyson to figure out his next opponent then Whyte should be at the top of the list.' 

The 'Body Snatcher' took action against the sanctioning body in pursuit of his title shot - but very few details about the case have been declared.  

Following Fury's victory over Deontay Wilder in their trilogy fight on October 9, the WBC said that they would give him 30 days to try and agree an undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk, or take on the ‘interim’ belt-holder - Whyte.   

However, Anthony Joshua triggered a clause in his contract to force a rematch with Usyk - who beat him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September. 

Therefore, it was assumed that the WBC would have ordered a fight between Fury and Whyte at the convention in Mexico City as a result.

However, the sanctioning body revealed that they would not be able to do so given the ongoing legal battle with Whyte. 

Arum also added that Fury would push for a fight with Usyk if Joshua 'stepped aside' and refrained from facing the Ukrainian again.    

'The alternative is that if Joshua decides not to exercise his rematch against Usyk and decides to step aside, the fight we would like to make is between Usyk and Fury,' Arum said.

'That is a fight to unify the titles once and for all.

'Then Joshua can fight the winner of the undisputed fight. Whyte can stand in line and fight the winner ultimately. That's what Tyson would like. And I represent Tyson. That is his preference.

'If they want to fight each other, which I believe they do - I would facilitate it.'

Joshua suffered a shock unanimous points defeat to Usyk, losing his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO belts to the Ukrainian. It was also Joshua's second defeat in four clashes inside the ring. 

Nevertheless, Arum has said that he would be eager to see Fury and Joshua face each other in the future.

He said: 'If Joshua decides he wants the rematch straight away, which I think would be a mistake because there is no way he will win unless he gets new trainers in and figures out how to fight a southpaw, then he has the absolute right to do it and nobody will interfere with that contract.

'If he decides, which I think he should, to take another fight, Usyk can fight Fury for all the belts, Joshua can fight the winner.

'I think that's the way he should go. If he does that, everybody will accommodate him.'