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Oleksandr Usyk cemented his place among boxing's modern greats with his masterful unanimous-decision win over Anthony Joshua in London last September.
Usyk tamed his fellow 2012 Olympic gold medallist with an imperious display, setting up the pair's blockbuster rematch in Saudi Arabia on August 20.
A former undisputed cruiserweight champion who turned over with an amateur record of 335-15, another victory in Jeddah would further burnish his place within the pantheon but, in world championship heavyweight boxing, there are no guarantees.
Win or lose, there are intriguing fights in Usyk's future although, at 35 years of age, he will be keen to choose wisely in what could prove the final stretch of a phenomenal career.
MORE: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua 2: What's next for AJ after Saudi Arabia heavyweight title showdown?
In the week before Usyk's rematch with Joshua, Tyson Fury announced his comeback and then retired again within the space of three days. The fact Fury has reached out to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman to inform him of his plans but the sanctioning body has not yet made their belt vacant only adds to a picture of confusion that might very well be the champion's intention.
"Everybody is waiting for the fight to happen a week from Saturday and then we'll explore whether it's feasible to do a fight for the complete unification," Fury's US promoter Bob Arum told Fight Freaks Unite around the time of his fighter touting for bouts with Derek Chisora and Hafthor Bjornsson, but before his latest retirement on the occasion of his 34th birthday. "He's having fun, for Christ's sake! Don't take it seriously!"
It's at least heartening for fans to hear that Arum views a Fury vs. Usyk showdown as a possibility. In terms of pure boxing skill and the puzzles each man would force the other to try to solve, it would be fascinating.
For his part, Fury has spoken in derisory terms about Usyk, dismissing him as a "blown-up middleweight", albeit primarily as a barb sent in Joshua's direction. There is little doubt, however, that a fight with his fellow Brit is both a more marketable and more straightforward assignment.
Just finished a touching video conference with @Tyson_Fury who has confirmed his official retirement from boxing . We fully support his decision which is a dream for anyone to retire undefeated and as WBC champion of the world.@WBCBoxing will prepare a special farewell event soon pic.twitter.com/2SgCRILldl— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro)
Fury is a vastly improved fighter from the one who was floored by another former cruiserweight champion in Steve Cunningham earlier in his career, but he might calculate that a nimble, skilful, shorter heavyweight is a headache he can do without. If Usyk beats Joshua again, Fury's retirement feels relatively more likely to stick.
A vanquished Joshua and Fury having left the stage would leave the division in a degree of flux, meaning it might be a good time for Usyk to tackle one of those pesky mandatory obligations that come around awfully quickly for unified champions. Filip Hrgovic, undefeated and highly rated, faces Zhang Zhilei on the Usyk vs. Joshua 2 undercard in an IBF final eliminator and that status might actually carry some weight in the circumstances for the 6ft 6ins Croatian, who has won 12 of his 14 professional fights inside the distance.
Usyk's tangles with Joshua and former WBC cruiserweight king Tony Bellew means his profile in the UK is considerable. He also boxed Joe Joyce in the World Series of Boxing before each turned professional. His former amateur rival is ranked highly by the WBC, WBO and IBF and a showdown between the pair could be huge if Joyce is able to negotiate former WBO champ Joseph Parker in September.
If Deontay Wilder is in fine fettle when he returns to the ring, purportedly against Robert Helenius in October, then a matchup between the knockout machine and Usyk the master boxer would hugely whet the appetite.
Depending on the manner of the defeat, a rubber match with Joshua would be possible, although AJ is far more likely to chase undisputed status. Andy Ruiz has made his feelings clear over wanting a third fight with Joshua after stopping the Briton in seven before losing a lopsided points decision in their rematch.
If Usyk is dethroned, a meeting between the only two men to have beaten Joshua would be an easy sell and a decent way of deciding who most deserves a third fight. Ruiz is back in shape and preparing to face veteran Cuban Luis Ortiz in September.
The danger for Usyk in defeat is that he would join the "who needs him" club, given the unique problems he poses to any heavyweight. Tapping into old storylines can always help in this situation, and going back to his roots of phenomenal amateur pedigree could yield some fascinating contests.
Frank Sanchez is an undefeated Cuban defector, 20-0 as a pro. His most notable win came over fellow undefeated prospect Efe Ajagba on the Fury vs. Deontay Wilder 3 undercard. Nevertheless, he fancies pitting his slick skills against Usyk or, for that matter, any of the leading big men.
"I want the best opponents right now, the top five, in Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk," Sanchez told ESNews through a translator this year, as quoted by Boxing Scene. "I'll knock out Fury easily. He has no boxing skills. Usyk is even easier. He has movement but he doesn't have the technique that I have."
To back up the brash talk, the 29-year-old has Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez's trainer Eddy Reynoso in his corner and Al Haymon taking care of the promotional side of things.
A fellow Olympic standout who will not be facing Usyk anytime soon is 2016 super-heavyweight gold medallist Tony Yoka, after the Frenchman suffered a bruising defeat to Martin Bakole.
That win left the popular Scottish-based Congolese fighter well-placed with the sanctioning bodies and he's been called into camp by Usyk as a sparring partner. It might be fun to see them do it for real.
