Lennox Lewis doesn't think Anthony Joshua would deserve a fight against Tyson Fury if he beats Francis Ngannou.
Promoter Eddie Hearn wants to pit Joshua against Fury or Oleksandr Usyk in a mega undisputed fight but Lewis doubts the Brit's credentials.
Joshua has won three fights since last April, the latest a five-round win over Otto Wallin in December.
He will step into the ring on March 8 against Ngannou, who gave Fury a run for his money in his first professional boxing match last October.
Anthony Joshua has been warned he doesn't deserve a fight against Tyson Fury
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The outcome of Fury vs Usyk on February 17 will already be determined before Joshua fights again, with the pair putting all their belts on the line in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Hearn wants Joshua to fight the winner for the chance to become undisputed champion.
But Lewis, who has been involved in an ongoing exchange with the promoter on social media, does not think Joshua beating Ngannou should grant him that chance.
He has compared the situation to before he fought Mike Tyson in 2002, where he told the American he would 'never be ready' to fight him.
Three-time world heavyweight champion Lewis instead believes the winner of Joseph Parker's fight with Zhilei Zhang would deserve it more.
He wrote on X: "OK, Eddie Hearn, I know this is the promoter in you speaking, so I’ll break it down like the boxing fan I am.
"If AJ beats Ngannou, which he should, does that elevate him to a shot at undisputed?
"Beating Wallin and Ngannou? There’s a much better case for the winner of Joseph Parker vs Zhilei Zhang.
"And if AJ gets through Ngannou, and Usyk wins undisputed, is the appetite for Usyk vs Joshua 3 out there?
"If Fury becomes undisputed, the man says he’s vacating all belts but the WBC and Ring so Fury in effect becomes last undisputed until someone else can Thanos them back together.
"I still want to see AJ fight Fury and Wilder… those are big fights.
"But like I told Mike Tyson, if you keep fighting guys like Lou Savarese, you will NEVER be ready for me."
Hearn responded directly to Lewis' post, confirming his plan remains for Joshua to fight the winner of Fury v Usyk.
He replied: "Break down whatever you want. His excellency confirmed the plan.
"Winner of #JoshuaNgannou v winner of #FuryUsyk - The dream has always been Undisputed and we are one win away for challenging for it.
"No problem with you preferring Parker or Zhang getting a shot at Undisputed over AJ!"
He added: "Don’t fight it! Again... please listen to the press conference! When AJ beats Ngannou and if Fury beats Usyk..one of the biggest fights ever awaits!"
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Anthony Joshua will fight Francis Ngannou in March
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Joshua is predicting Usyk to come out on top in February's huge fight.
However, he would rather fight Fury having already lost twice to Usyk in his career.
"It's going to be a good fight," Joshua told Sky Sports.
"I think Usyk edges it. I'm not really bothered. I just want them both to be healthy and leave the ring.
"It's a tough game. So that's all I can ask for, that they leave the ring healthy.
"In terms of how it goes, it doesn't affect my life, in a way.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will lock horns in February
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"I'm not like one of those fans that starts crying because someone won or lost.
"It is what it is. Tomorrow comes around. Good luck to both of them.
"[I'd] probably [want] the opportunity to fight Tyson Fury.
“I think that's a better fight for the fans and myself.”