Former world champion Carl Frampton believes that Anthony Joshua may now get the long-awaited fight against Tyson Fury.
Joshua and Fury almost met back in 2021, only to see their fight derailed when Fury was obliged to honour a trilogy rematch with Deontay Wilder.
Fury had been set to meet Oleksandr Usyk - the fighter to depose Joshua and take his WBA, WBO and IBF belts - but those talks appear to have collapsed.
Joshua is in action on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London, when he faces Jermaine Franklin live on DAZN.
Frampton thinks that a win against Franklin could tee Joshua up for a fight against WBC champion Fury.
He wrote for the BBC: “The Fury-Usyk undisputed fight falling through could actually work out favourably for Joshua
“Fury's in a position now where a lot of people are blaming him for that fight not happening.
“A few months ago he was being lauded and is now facing a lot of criticism because of the antics and things he said around the proposed Usyk fight, and even previous to that.
“Imagine if Fury now faces another Dillian Whyte or Derek Chisora-type opponent, nobody wants to see that.
“I'm not saying a win against Franklin will automatically set up the Fury fight, but I would love to see a stern, clear call-out - 'I want Tyson Fury next'.
“Fury might also be in a position now where he feels like he has to take that fight. He may feel AJ is an easier fight than the Usyk fight, which quite possibly it is.
“I think it could all work in AJ's favour. It could also be a chance for both Britons to get people back on side as well.
“We all saw Joshua's outburst in the ring after his loss to Usyk in Saudi Arabia last year. I'd say as soon as he did it he would have regretted it. He understands it wasn't a good look for him.
“But the amount of pressure that has been on that man's shoulders was insane. It's been there from the very start, from turning professional as an Olympic champion.
“People have their own opinion on Joshua but I have to say every time I've been around him he's always been so nice.
“A loss will leave him with many regrets. He will be thinking about those big fights - against the likes of Fury or Deontay Wilder - which never happened.”