The White Wolf is on the prowl.

Unbeaten heavyweight Mourad Aliev had been in contention as a last-minute substitute to face former titleholder Joseph Parker but ultimately decided to pass up the opportunity that ultimately went to Martin Bakole in Riyadh, last month.

His handler, Ahmet Oner, initially accepted the challenge at 48 hours' notice but had a change of heart and felt it wasn't the right time for his fighter.

The 29-year-old Russian-born fighter, who fought at the 2021 Olympics for France, fights for Ahmet Oner at Universum Promotions, he won all four fights last year is now targeting WBC International titleholder Andrii Novytskyi.

"I'm prepared to fight anybody," Aliev (13-0, 10 knockouts) told The Ring. "I always need a good camp and if I have a good camp, I can fight anybody.

"I am willing to take the next stage, and this is a good opponent, he did well but I am better than him."

Öner, who has worked with a host of top fighters including Juan Carlos Gomez, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Guillermo Rigondeaux in the past, believes this matchup of two young heavyweights would be key to the division’s future.

"Novytski, he's a solid boxer, he's tall, had a good jab, he can punch but he did not impress me, he doesn't use his footwork or full power," said Öner. "He's progressing and he's not looking exciting but to be honest watch Tyson Fury or Wladimir Klitschko when they had 10/ 12 fights, not everybody is like Mike Tyson.

"Mourad is brave, if he gets hit, he angry and comes back, he has to control his emotions. He needs more experience, and this type of fight will bring him to the next level.

"What I see is a guy who Mourad has to beat. He's not a small brawler; it's a tall boxer and I think that will fit Mourad."

The working plan is for this fight to happen in the first half of this year in either Europe or if the opportunity is there to meet on a Riyadh Season show.