Deontay Wilder has entered negotiations to fight mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin, the WBC has confirmed.
WBC world heavyweight champion Wilder (36-0-KO35) defended his belt against Artur Szpilka in New York on Saturday night via ninth-round stoppage.
Next up for the 30-year-old American looks to be Russia's Povetkin (30-1-KO22), who was last in action in November when he stopped Mariusz Wach in the final round to cement his mandatory status.
In an interview reported on boxingscene.com, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said: "The next fight will absolutely see Wilder against the mandatory challenger, Alexander Povetkin.
"Right now, there is a negotiating process in which the parties have 30 days [to reach a deal]. I think the fight will take place in May or June."
The location of the bout is a point of interest, with Povetkin hopeful of securing home advantage while Wilder claims: "Russia is too cold."
Povetkin, 36, is a former WBA world heavyweight champion but lost his belt when he suffered his only career defeat - on points to Wladimir Klitschko in Moscow in October 2013.