Top heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte recently named former champion Alexander Povetkin as the preferred opponent, for a potential return on April 18 in London or Manchester.

Whyte may very well get his wish, as the Russian veteran is interested in facing him.

"Povetkin has been interested in the fight against Whyte even before he became the mandatory to fight Anthony Joshua," confirmed a representative from his promoters, World of Boxing, to Sky Sports. "We have not started concrete negotiations for this fight, but I heard that there was interest."

A fight between Whyte and Povetkin had been mentioned in 2018, but the Russian former world champion went in another direction when was able to secure a big money opportunity to fight Anthony Joshua.

Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko are the only two boxers to defeat Povetkin.

Whyte currently holds the WBC's interim-world title. Full champion Deontay Wilder, who faces Tyson Fury on February 22, is not obligated to face him until February 2021. Whyte has no intention of waiting around for Wilder.

"[Eddie Hearn] mentioned April 18 on an interview, so I guess that's the date. Probably in London or Manchester, something like that. The O2 gets booked up a lot, so either London or Manchester. They are two good venues and it would be good to move to a different part of the country some time as well. Manchester Arena would be good," Whyte said to Sky Sports.

"If [Povetkin] wants it, he can get it. It's going to be a tear-up, because he is not really a mover and I'm not really a mover, so he's a come forward fighter and I come forward. We're going to have a scrap. Povetkin comes to fight doesn't he. He doesn't come to mess about. I'm the same, so let's get it. Let's see who has got the best left hook around."