EDDIE HEARN has warned Anthony Joshua his career could be permanently 'derailed' if he loses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua, 31, is on the brink of facing the former cruiserweight king following the collapse of his undisputed heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury.
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And Hearn reckons the undefeated Ukrainian could prove to be a huge banana skin for AJ.
The Matchroom Boxing chief told Sky Sports: "We have both alerted the WBO, myself and (Usyk's promoter) Alex Krassyuk.
"Terms are agreed. The offer we made to them has been accepted.
"We move forward to paper that now. We are going through the contract with their team.
"It is very amicable. They have been partners of ours for a long time.
"This is a fight that could derail the career of Joshua if he's not on it, if he's not 100 per cent.
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"AJ needs to be ruthless. He needs to show the [ruthlessness of] Derek Chisora with more cuteness and sharpness."
"AJ wants to make a statement, these are the fights that he likes."
September 25 is the tentative date for Joshua's long-awaited clash with his fellow Olympian, which both men are relishing.
Hearn added: "Usyk just wants the fight, he wants the opportunity to become heavyweight champion
"[Joshua] loves the fight. We all know it's tricky, we all know it's difficult.
"But what else are we going to do?
"AJ is a throwback fighter and, for years and years, has faced all of the people that [were made his mandatory challengers]."
Joshua hasn't set foot inside the ring since his ninth-round KO of Kubrat Pulev last December.
And the unified heavyweight champion of the world is eager to return with a bang when he locks horns with The Cat.
Hearn said: "Time and time again, AJ has never shirked a challenge.
"And this is a real challenge. Look at the pound-for-pound top-10 list, AJ is not on it. Usyk is.
"AJ wants to make a statement, these are the fights that he likes."
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