The WBC champion had been linked with a fight against Canelo Alvarez, but that has fallen through. He could now face the Briton to defend his strap.

Riakporhe had been linked with Lawrence Okolie but speaking to Sky Sports, Shalom said: "We want to make the Makabu fight for Richard Riakporhe, and I think we can make that this year.

"So that's what we're focused on for Richard. We think that's the right fight for Richard. His development has been incredible. He took to boxing late, and his development had to come late, but he's improving every fight, and his power is incredible. We think he has everything it takes to be a world champion, so he will fight Makabu.

"Richard's dream, I think, would be to win a world title and then look at a unification with Lawrence Okolie. That's what he wants. Ultimately he has heavyweight ambitions. He's a monster. I think you've got Richard and Lawrence are considered the top two on the domestic scene, and probably Billam-Smith and Chamberlain are the two biggest names outside of those two. We're going to have big opportunities for both of them."