Instead, the two-time unified heavyweight champion focused on his mental and phyiscal health after surviving a car crash which killed two of his closest friends in December.

His teammate, Oleksandr Usyk, got the assignment instead and it was anything but easy.

Usyk-Verhoeven was originally thought to be more of a spectacle than a spirited slugfest, but the Dutch kickboxing icon exceeded expectations in pushing Usyk to the brink of a career-first professional defeat.

The Ukrainian rallied late and scored a controversial 11th-round stoppage win on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. In the aftermath, the Ring and unified champion has been ordered to face WBC interim titlist Agit Kabayel while a Verhoeven rematch appears likely. Some close to him meanwhile, have urged the two-division king to retire.

Joshua though, is advising his former foe to pursue the sequel.

"As a fight fan, respectfully, not as a fight historian, I want to see Rico versus Usyk again." Joshua told The Ring's CEO, Rick Reeno, on the "Mr. Verzace Podcast."

"Usyk-Kabayel is still a massive fight. I like the way Kabayel is calling him out, but from a pure fan point of view, I think the rematch would just be amazing. Which one generates more money? I think the Rico rematch because of the attention on that fight. Rico is a big player in kickboxing and announced himself in the heavyweight division.

"If I am putting on my historian and legacy hat, 100 percent Kabayel is the fight. But you know how big rematches are, they got a storyline and history ... Usyk was apparently losing on the scorecards. We're already building on foundations that have been cemented."

Verhoeven was up 96-94 on one scorecard and even, 95-95, on the other two at the time of the questionable stoppage, coming with a second left in the round as the challenger defended himself seconds after being floored.

"We need to let Oleksandr enjoy his victory because the referee did what he was supposed to do, and that was either let the fight continue or stop it, and he decided to stop it. That's his job," Joshua said.

"I think Usyk would have done what was needed to remain champion. He just has it in him. He knows how to turn the heat up in the later rounds where most heavyweights will fade, and that's what he did with Rico.

“I think if they rematch, it'll work in Usyk's favor because he's got that data. But Rico did well. He did his thing and surprised me. A man who dared to be great, the odds were stacked against him. When you're not expected to do much, but do more than what's expected of you, it's a moral victory and I believe he gained a lot of support."