Eddie Hearn, promoter for heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte, is already looking ahead at potential opponents for his boxer.

Two of the names he would like to explore are both former world champions, Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz.

Wilder has been away from the ring since February 2020, when he was stopped in seven rounds by Tyson Fury.

And Ruiz is scheduled to fight on May 1, when he faces fellow Mexican Chris Arreola in the main event of a Fox Sports pay-per-view card.

Hearn believes that he can work out the financial details for a fight between Wilder and Whyte.

And if he can't, then he would like to see Whyte fight Andy Ruiz or WBA "regular" champion Trevor Bryan.

“Both Dillian Whyte and Deontay Wilder are not world champions, so there’s no actual standard as far as who should get what in terms of the purse. We need to see Deontay Wilder back in the ring. The heavyweight division is a better one with him in it," Hearn told the AK & Barak show.

"Dillian Whyte can be matched with anyone. But Wilder-Whyte is a thrilling barnburner. Deontay Wilder is a huge name in America now after those two fights with Fury. He’s also a big name in the UK. I haven’t really thought about the split. I would just work with the money and say, ‘Guys, this is what I think is in the fight. We can work out a deal. Who knows? We need to see Deontay Wilder back in the ring. I want to see that, and I think he’s great for the sport.

"And I think the division would be a better place with him in it, so let’s see him get active. Dillian has had such a long run of tough fights. I would like to see him come to the states in the summer and have a fight. Whether that’s Trevor Bryan or another American heavyweight to make a mark here. I think Deontay Wilder and I think the Andy Ruiz fight is tremendous as well for Dillian Whyte.

“Dillian Whyte is one of those guys that you can match him against anyone and he’s always exciting. He’s never been in a dull fight, and I just feel that Wilder-Whyte is a barnburner, I really do. I think it’s an absolutely thrilling fight. I’m not sure they’d make it to the ring, but it would be a lot of fun."