It has been a while in coming, but Tony Bellew is confident that the announcement of his next opponent is just around the corner.

The Merseyside fighter and his manager Eddie Hearn have been very diligent in organising the path that they head down after Bellew won his first fight at heavyweight against David Haye in March.

Bellew had plenty of thoughts run through his head after that fight, which included retirement, after feeling that he achieved all that he could in the sport.

He also suffered a serious hand injury in the Haye fight which put him out of action for a number of months.

Now, fully motivated and refreshed, Bellew is ready for his next challenge.

Talks were a fair way down the track for a fight with American Andre Ward, but Hearn decided to take another direction and it is a decision that Bellew is in full agreement in.

Sky Sports reported Bellew as saying: "We got a fair bit close on Andre Ward, I thought that would get announced imminently. Eddie came back with something else, and I trust Eddie Hearn.

"I came to Eddie as a British champion. I'm a world champion, I've beaten an elite-level fighter and I've done it against all the odds on a number of occasions on his watch, so I will leave it to him.

"I trust him and he'll make the right decision for me."

There have been whispers of a rematch between Bellew and Haye after their first fight ended in a TKO when Haye suffered a bad Achilles injury in the six round, yet bravely fought on until his trainer threw in the towel five rounds later.

The other option that has been discussed is a bout with WBO Heavyweight Champion Joseph Parker (23-0,18 KOs).

The New Zealander has a mandatory defence against fellow unbeaten fighter Hughie Fury (20-0, 10KOs) in September at the Manchester Arena.

Bellew says if Parker fails that test, he will seize the opportunity to fight the 25-year old.

"If I fight Joseph Parker, he's lost his heavyweight championship of the world. He isn't big and I fancy it, without a doubt."

Boxing is a sport where plans can change in a instant, so it is a case of watch this space as we await the next exciting step of Bellew's career.