Oleksandr Usyk's representative has firmly rejected Tyson Fury's suggestion that the Ukrainian champion could act as a fallback opponent for a potential fight with Anthony Joshua, amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding a much‑anticipated all‑British heavyweight clash. Negotiations for the long‑awaited Fury‑Joshua showdown have stalled, primarily because the two camps cannot agree on the venue. While Fury’s camp has been pushing for a neutral location, possibly New York, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has repeatedly insisted the fight should be staged in London. The deadlock has left both fighters looking elsewhere, and on Monday Fury took to his social‑media channels to hint that he was scouting a new adversary.
In a series of Instagram posts, Fury made it clear that he still harboured a desire to meet Usyk for a third encounter. He reminded fans that he had already faced the Ukrainian twice in 2024, losing both contests on the judges’ scorecards and consequently relinquishing his undisputed heavyweight status. Fury framed the potential third bout as a chance to settle the score and reclaim his place at the top of the division. Usyk’s manager, Sergey Lapin, responded to Fury’s overture in a statement to Sky Sports News on Monday evening.
Lapin dismissed the notion that Usyk would serve as a "backup plan" for Fury, emphasizing that the Ukrainian champion is not a placeholder for anyone’s schedule. "If Tyson needs an opponent, he should turn to the Ready to Fight platform, where he can be matched with a suitable challenger," Lapin said.
He added that while Usyk is always willing to take on high‑profile fights, any genuine interest must be backed by a concrete, formal offer rather than public speculation or media sound bites. The comment from Lapin underscores a broader theme in the heavyweight landscape: the importance of clear, mutually agreed‑upon terms before any bout can move forward. Usyk, who announced in June that he would vacate the three heavyweight titles he still held, has not indicated any intention to retire. At 39, he remains an active and marketable figure, and recent rumors have linked him with a possible showdown against former champion Deontay Wilder.
However, those talks remain speculative, and no official negotiations have been confirmed. Usyk’s record stands at an immaculate 25‑0, a perfect tally that includes two victories over Joshua in 2021 and 2022. Those wins, however, came before Joshua’s recent resurgence and before Usyk became part of the British fighter’s training entourage over the past year. This evolving relationship adds another layer of intrigue to any potential future clash between the two heavyweights.
Both Fury and Joshua have already signed individual contracts for a bout that was originally slated for November, yet the disagreement over the fight’s location persists. Some observers believe a neutral venue such as New York City could satisfy both parties, while others argue that a London setting would give Joshua the home‑field advantage he desires. The impasse has led to a series of public statements and social‑media exchanges, each side trying to sway public opinion and apply pressure on the other. In a recent video posted on Instagram, Fury directly addressed Usyk, stating, "This will only lead me to a fight with Oleksandr Usyk." He went on to claim that Joshua’s team, including Usyk, was trying to avoid a match that has been talked about for more than a decade.
Fury accused Usyk of being Joshua’s trainer and "sensei," suggesting that the Ukrainian was influencing Joshua’s decisions in a way that protected his own interests. Fury’s message was both a challenge and a taunt.
He praised Usyk for his previous victories, saying, "You got the decisions last time, fair play to you. Good luck to you, let’s do it again. Let’s run it back in November." He then posed a direct question to Usyk, asking whether he wanted to fight again in 2026 or was considering stepping away from the sport.
"The ball is now in your court," Fury declared, indicating that he was ready to move on and find a new opponent if a concrete offer from Usyk did not materialise. The exchange highlights the high stakes and personal rivalries that have come to define the heavyweight division in recent years. With the Fury‑Joshua fight still hanging in the balance, both fighters are keen to keep their options open, and the involvement of Usyk adds another strategic dimension. While Fury appears eager to secure a definitive opponent, Usyk’s camp is insisting on a professional approach that respects the champion’s stature and requires a formal proposal.
As the heavyweight calendar continues to evolve, fans can expect further negotiations, press conferences, and perhaps more social‑media sparring as the key players jockey for position. Whether the eventual showdown will be a Fury‑Joshua classic, a Usyk‑Wilder clash, or a renewed Usyk‑Fury trilogy remains to be seen, but the underlying message from both camps is clear: any fight must be built on a solid foundation of mutual agreement, clear terms, and genuine intent, not merely on the whims of speculation or the desire to fill a promotional void.