Tyson Fury's manager Spencer Brown insists his client must beat Oleksandr Usyk if he hopes to face Anthony Joshua next.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh is planning to stage the long-awaited all-British clash between Joshua and Fury in March 2025.
2
Joshua is set to face Daniel Dubois on September 21 at Wembley Stadium for 'Triple D's' IBF heavyweight title.
If he wins that fight and Fury topples Usyk when they run it back on December 21 then the pair will duke it out for the undisputed crown next year, barring any funny business from the major sanctioning bodies.
Brown previously suggested that Alalshikh had informed him that AJ vs Fury would happen regardless of the result of 'The Gypsy King's' second fight with Usyk on December 21.
However, he now insists that the Usyk rematch carries more bearing on Fury's next move.
READ MORE ON BOXING
"I think that we need to get this one out the way. There's no collision course if he doesn't win the next fight. So it's imperative he beats Usyk," Brown told Sky Sports.
Fury lost a tight split decision to Usyk in May but was dropped and nearly stopped in the ninth round.
The Mancunian's team came under a lot of criticism following the fight.
Traditionally, only one person speaks in a fighter's corner between rounds, but Fury's father John, SugarHill Steward, and Andy Lee were all giving him advice during the bout - some of which was contradictory.
2
Yet Brown insists the only changes Fury will be making ahead of his second meeting with Usyk will be in training.
"There'll be changes, not in management or his team, there'll be some other stuff that he'll be looking at training-wise," Brown added.
Most read in Boxing
Tyson Fury claims his fight against 'local amateur boxer' Oleksandr Usyk was 'easy' and that he had 'too much fun'
"With the closeness of the fight last time, it could have gone either way.
"Some people will say Usyk was three rounds in front, some people won't, it's your opinion on boxing - that's why we love it.
Read More on talkSPORT
"But Tyson Fury will be back. He'll be firing and we'll see a new, better, improved Tyson Fury.
"At his age, I don't know how much you can improve but there was very, very little in the fight between them, so let's back our British guy and I'm sure he will win and then we're going to talk about the next stage."
Boxing WhatsApp channel
Get the latest fight news, reaction and the best opinion from talkSPORT pundits in our Boxing WhatsApp channel.
Follow our Boxing channel HERE.