Anthony Joshua has been challenged by Deontay Wilder's manager for a heavyweight clash even if he loses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Both Joshua and Wilder have reached a difficult period in their careers, with Wilder suffering back-to-back defeats to Tyson Fury to lose his WBC heavyweight belt and has since been surrounded by retirement speculation.
Joshua, meanwhile, lost his three heavyweight belts in September to Oleksandr Usyk in a devastating fashion and a second defeat to the Ukrainian in the pair's upcoming rematch may also see him face similar questions.
READ MORE: Anthony Joshua told to flirt with 'disqualification' in order to win Oleksandr Usyk fight
Should Joshua lose to Usyk next weekend, he'll find himself at a true crossroads in his career, and will need to build his way back up to championship level if he's ever to get a shot at the belts again.
One way he could elevate himself quicker, would be facing the Bronze Bomber, in a mega-fight with Wilder - with the American's coach stating that it's a fight that both fighters would take and would still be big even if AJ loses to Usyk.
Wilder's manager Shelly Finkel told The Sun: "I believe that fight is enormous even if he loses to Usyk.
"I don't believe in Joshua - Usyk now is as big as Fury - Usyk is. There's a lot of moving pieces but what I do know is there's four big names at this point and that is Fury, Usyk, Joshua and Deontay. And this month, two of those guys will be fighting and that will clarify what the future is."
Joshua and Fury were set for a unification bout in Saudi Arabia last summer but an American court ruled Fury must honour his rematch with Wilder. Fury did his part by defeating the Bronze Bomber in the United States but Joshua lost his three belts in his mandatory defence against Usyk, which he'll now look to avenge next Saturday (August 20).
That has pushed a unification bout further into the horizon, especially with Fury's 'retirement'. But an AJ win next weekend could change all that.
