Oleksandr Usyk’s management team has firmly turned down Tyson Fury’s request for a heavyweight trilogy bout, dismissing the Gypsy King’s suggestions as mere contingency planning amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding a potential match against Anthony Joshua.
The proposed all-British showdown between Fury and Joshua continues to face significant hurdles, with negotiations stalled over the dispute regarding the venue for the highly anticipated contest. Both fighters have reportedly signed contracts for a November date, yet a consensus on location remains elusive.
Fury took to social media on Monday to express his desire for a third fight with the Ukrainian champion, citing the prolonged delay in finalizing terms with Joshua. In an Instagram video, Fury claimed Usyk was currently serving as Joshua’s trainer and accused the Brit of being «weak minded» for avoiding the ring.
«This will only lead me to a fight with Oleksandr Usyk,» Fury stated. «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. The ball is now in your court… do you want to fight me this year, 2026, or are you calling it quits?»
In response, Usyk’s manager, Sergey Lapin, issued a statement to Sky Sports News on Monday evening, emphasizing that Usyk is not prepared to serve as a fallback option. He urged Fury to seek out a worthy opponent through professional channels rather than relying on press statements.
«Usyk is not Tyson’s backup plan,» Lapin said. «If Fury needs an opponent, he should visit the Ready to Fight platform. They can help him find a worthy opponent there. Oleksandr is always open to big challenges. But serious intentions are backed by a concrete offer, not statements in the press.»
The dispute over the Joshua-Fury fight has drawn attention from prominent figures, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has publicly called for the bout to take place in the capital. Promoter Eddie Hearn maintains that Joshua feels a responsibility to UK fans to ensure the fight happens domestically, whereas Fury has suggested his rival is attempting to evade a contest that has been over a decade in the making.
Usyk, who holds an unblemished 25-0 professional record, defeated Joshua in successive bouts in 2021 and 2022 to claim the undisputed heavyweight title. Although he vacated the three heavyweight belts he held in June, the 39-year-old has clarified that he is not yet retiring from the sport.
Usyk’s camp hitting back hard. Calling Fury’s social media rants not concrete offers is the right move.
How can a venue dispute stall such a massive fight? Sadiq Khan better help sort this out quickly.
Fury needs to stop making excuses and just fight Usyk. The trilogy is long overdue, honestly.