The deadline for Fury and Whyte to agree a WBC heavyweight championship fight was due at 6pm Wednesday January 26 but has been pushed back for the "final" time to Friday, the governing body has said.

Purse bids would allow any promoter to enter the talks and finance the fight.

Whyte has been named as the mandatory challenger to Fury's title by the WBC, but is currently in arbitration with the governing body.

Anthony Joshua has meanwhile denied reports that he will be paid to step aside from the rematch that he triggered against IBF, WBA and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk, to allow Fury and Usyk to stage an undisputed title fight.

Joshua said: "I'm hearing people say 'AJ accepts £15m to step aside'. I haven't signed a contract, I haven't seen a contract. So as it stands, stop listening until it comes from me.

"I'm the man in control of my destiny."

His promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports about Joshua's immediate plan: "We have a number of proposals and options to discuss."

Fury criticised his rivals: "Tick, tick, tock. Is Whyte going to fight me? Is Joshua going to step aside?

"Let me know because I am sick of looking at these bums. I am sick of listening to their excuses."

Usyk's promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports: "Though AJ gave his consent (according to The Telegraph) we still have not reached the final point in negotiations. And unless we get it - AJ rematch remains the basic option for us."

If Fury and Usyk agree a deal to contest every major belt in the weight class, it would likely have to be before the WBC call for purse bids to finalise Fury vs Whyte.

They now have an extra two days to thrash out the immediate future of the heavyweight division.

Sky Sports Boxing schedule

Sunday January 30 in Tulsa
Robson Conceicao vs Xavier Martinez - WBC super-featherweight title eliminator
Nico Ali Walsh

Saturday February 5 in Cardiff
Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Williams
Claressa Shields vs Ema Kozin - IBF, WBA and WBC middleweight titles

Saturday February 19 in Manchester
Amir Khan vs Kell Brook
Frazer Clarke's pro debut

Saturday February 26 in Glasgow
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall - undisputed super-lightweight titles
Nick Campbell vs Jay McFarlane - Scottish heavyweight title

Saturday March 5 in Fresno
Jose Ramirez vs Jose Pedraza

Sunday March 20 in New York
Edgar Berlanga vs Steve Rolls
Keyshawn Davis
Xander Zayas