Tyson Fury’s attempt to pivot toward Oleksandr Usyk isn’t landing the way he hoped.
Fury had been expected to finally book his long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua later this year, especially after both men came through tune-up fights in July.
But ongoing disputes over the fight’s location have kept the bout in limbo, and Fury appeared to lose patience over the weekend, announcing on social media that he’s now looking elsewhere, with old rival Usyk, who ironically now trains alongside Joshua, at the top of his list.
Usyk’s manager, Sergey Lapin, wasted no time dismissing the idea. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Lapin made clear that Usyk isn’t sitting around as anyone’s fallback option, and that any real interest would need to come in the form of an actual offer rather than public statements.
Usyk is not Tyson’s backup plan. Oleksandr is always open to big challenges. But serious intentions are backed by a concrete offer, not statements in the press.
Usyk and Fury already met twice in 2024, with Usyk winning both encounters, and Usyk vacating his undisputed heavyweight titles earlier this year technically left the door open for a trilogy. Even so, his camp appears far more focused on a different fight: a potential 2027 clash with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, which is reportedly already in talks.
For now, Fury’s search for a new opponent looks set to continue without Usyk’s cooperation.
