Anthony Joshua is ready to step in and fight Dillian Whyte if Tyson Fury is unwilling to do so, according to Eddie Hearn.

Already holding the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles, Joshua wants to complete the collection by adding the WBC belt, currently held by Fury following his stoppage win over Deontay Wilder.

That duo are scheduled to meet for a third time, though a date is yet to be confirmed, with Whyte then next in line to face the winner.

However, promoter Hearn has made clear that if Fury is not so keen to make that fight, Joshua is willing to make it happen in his quest to be crowned the undisputed champion in the division.

Joshua and Whyte have met once before in the paid ranks too, the former coming out on top against his long-time rival back in December 2015.

"Looking at the bigger undisputed picture, all Joshua wants is the WBC title," Hearn told Sky Sports News. 

"He was never worried if it came against Wilder or Fury. Whoever owns that belt is who Joshua will face for the undisputed championship. 

"We know the winner of Saturday's fight will be ordered to face the winner of Fury-Wilder. If Fury does not want to fight Whyte, then Whyte will be elevated to champion from interim champion. Now I do not like that. 

"But what will happen? Joshua will fight Whyte straight away for the undisputed championship. 

"You always want to fight a champion. But if Fury refuses to do a fight that has been ordered by the WBC, then he will be stripped of his title. 

"Then Whyte will be fighting for the undisputed championship."

Whyte puts his status as the WBC's interim champion on the line this weekend when he takes on Alexander Povetkin in the fourth and final 'Fight Camp' event to be staged at Matchroom's headquarters in Essex.

Russian Povetkin was stopped by Joshua back in 2018, but that is one of only two defeats he has suffered in a 38-fight career.