Oleksandr Usyk looks to be closing in on a deal to fight Deontay Wilder for the WBC heavyweight world championship after it was revealed he will be permitted to make a voluntary defence of the title.
Usyk, undefeated at 24-0, is the unified WBC, WBA and IBF champion but no longer boasts undisputed champion status, having vacated the WBO championship in November to crown British boxer Fabio Wardley the new heavyweight champion.