Wladimir Klitschko’s brother Vitali believes a loss to Anthony Joshua on April 29 will leave the former champion's career in tatters.

The Ukrainian has never lost consecutive fights, and at the age of 41, even his brother doubts his ability to come back from a defeat this Saturday.

Wladimir is yet to comment on his future, insisting he cannot yet look any further than Saturday night, when he and Joshua share the ring in front of 90,000 people at Wembley Stadium.

The boxer, who lost on points to the controversial Tyson Fury, is set to face one of the toughest opponents of his career in Joshua, and there are many who believe he has been ailing in his most recent bouts.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of his brother’s bout against Joshua, Vitali said: "Wladimir right now is focusing on the fight. He knows from this fight a lot depends on his future and his career.

“It's the time to think about stopping and not fighting anymore, or continuing his career.

"Wladimir knows he has to dominate. Not to wait, to come in and show his performance. No other way. He knows that, I talked to him, many times. He knows that already well.

“Everything, his future depends on him, and that's why if Joshua loses the fight, he has a lot of space, because of his age. He has a next time to fight, to try to be the world champion

“Wladimir doesn't have a second chance. That's why we expect full concentration from him and, of course, a good result.”

The Klitschko camp are hoping that the thought of having to retire, should Wladimir lose, will spur him on and give him an additional boost to get past the unbeaten Joshua.

However, with a chance at boxing greatness on the line, the 27-year-old Brit is unlikely to afford “the steel hammer” an inch.

Joshua’s record currently stands at an impressive 18-0, and a win this Saturday could silence his critics, after they have claimed that he is yet to defeat a boxer of real quality.