Frank Maloney has said that he is optimistic that David Price and Tyson Fury will agree to fight.

Price's promoter says that one offer to fight Fury, who is one match from becoming the mandatory WBC heavyweight title challenger, has already been turned down.

Maloney told BBC Sport: "We could agree not to negotiate in the press. For the good of British boxing I hope Price-Fury is one of sport's great events of 2013.

"I understand Team Fury's hesitancy because they believe they are close to a fight against one of the Klitschko brothers. If that is the route Mick and Tyson are going, make that clear and both sides can go their own way.

"Price vs. Fury would be a massive attraction for next summer and both men could have an interim contest before meeting. Apart from David Haye fighting Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko it is the biggest contest in the heavyweight division."

Price is the reigning British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, having successfully defended his belts last Friday.