WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and Britain’s Tyson Fury must agree to terms on a rematch by Feb. 5 or else it will be put to a purse bid with a 60-40 split in Wilder’s favour.

The sanctioning body made this known on Wednesday.

If the situation goes to a purse bid, any promoter can bid to host the fight, with Wilder getting 60 per cent of the winning bid and Fury getting 40 percent as opposed to the usual 70-30 split.

Wilder retained his title after a split decision draw with Fury last month and the WBC quickly sanctioned a direct rematch.

The development means that mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale and fellow suitor Dillian Whyte will likely be forced to wait at least a fight longer before competing for the belt.

“The WBC is hereby notifying both camps that the free negotiation period is opened and if there is no agreement between the parties.

““A purse bid will be conducted by the WBC on Tuesday February 5th,” the WBC said in a statement.

“The WBC has modified the 70-30 split and has confirmed a 60-40 split in favour of the champion Wilder considering the market value of Fury.”

When the two fighters battled to a disputed decision last month in Los Angeles, Wilder scored two knockdowns but Fury beat the 10-count both times and after the bout both endorsed the idea of a rematch.

Tyson Fury is entitled to a greater share of the purse for his rematch against heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, says the WBC.

Britain’s Fury and American Wilder shared a controversial and thrilling draw in Los Angeles in December.

The WBC has told their promoters to agree a rematch by 5 February.

If there is no agreement, the WBC will split the purse bid 60-40 in favour of Wilder, “considering the market value of Fury”.

This is an increase from the 30% that is typically due to the challenger in a title fight.

According to BBC, the WBC sanctioned a direct rematch between Fury and Wilder last month, ensuring the American did not have to face mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale next.

Fury’s promoter Frank Warren and Wilder’s promoter Shelly Finkel will now negotiate but if they do not agree an acceptable fee for both fighters by the deadline, the fight is open to sealed bids from other promoters, with the highest bid winning.

If that happens, Fury would then be entitled to 40% of the purse.

Earlier this month, Warren told BBC Sport that Fury was a bigger draw than heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

Joshua has a date booked at Wembley Stadium on 13 April for his next fight and a unification bout with Wilder is the number one target.

But Wilder has been more open to fighting Fury and Warren believes Joshua – promoted by Eddie Hearn – is wary of a contest with his man.

Although Fury was knocked down in the ninth and 12th rounds against Wilder, many observers thought the 30-year-old Briton should have won the bout, which was scored 115-111 for Wilder, 114-112 for Fury and 113-113.

Fury said he had “never seen a worse decision in my life” and described it as a “gift” for his opponent.

Wilder, 33, questioned if referee Jack Reiss’ count was too slow in Fury’s remarkable rise from the canvas in the 12th round, which Reiss denied.

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on Tuesday said he was eager for a rematch with Tyson Fury, after the two undefeated boxers fought to a thrilling, but controversial split decision draw on Saturday in Los Angeles.

The American knocked his opponent down twice, including a brutal takedown in the 12th round, but the towering Fury controlled much of the fight, leaving some not least the Briton himself to claim he was robbed by the judges.

Wilder said he wanted a rematch “ASAP’’ to settle the question of who was the better fighter, adding he would be willing to take on the former champion as early as March or April.

But on the contrary, promoters suggested it would not come that soon.

“There are so many opinions, so many mixed emotions surrounding the first fight,” Wilder said.

“The second fight is all about proving a point. Who won the first fight? That’s enough right there to get you excited,” he said.

“You thought the first one was something? Oh my God, I can’t wait for the second. It might be a trilogy if it goes as good as the first.”

Fury said on Saturday that he also wanted a rematch.

Wilder said the bright lights of his first pay-per-view fight and a crowd of nearly 18,000 fans, caused nerves that led him to hunt for a knockout as opposed to staying with his game plan.

“I got over-anxious to knock Tyson Fury out,” said the 40-0-1 Wilder, who has won 39 of his fights by KO, usually with his deadly right hand.

“The fight was easier than it seemed. He was ducking me when I was overthrowing my punches,” he said.

“I’ve knocked guys out so many times with that very move he was doing. But I being anxious got the best of me.”

Wilder said being more than 50 pounds lighter than Fury at the time of the fight and the after-effects of surgery on his right arm, also contributed to his sub-par performance.

While Saturday’s fight was ruled by a draw, Wilder said the sport of boxing, particularly in the U.S. was a winner.

“My ultimate goal was to bring the heavyweight division back here in America,” said Wilder, who won a bronze medal for his country at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

“And to see that turnout, it was amazing.”

NAN