Akin Ayomide
Tyson Fury has set his sights on a trilogy bout with Oleksandr Usyk rather than a long-awaited all-British showdown with Anthony Joshua, his promoter has revealed.
Frank Warren said the former WBC heavyweight titleholder is eyeing a return to the ring next year and remains focused on avenging his two defeats to the undisputed heavyweight champion.
“The fight he really wants is another go with Mr Usyk; he really wants that,” Warren told Sky Sports.
“And they were great fights, really close fights, to watch. I’d watch that again. That’s the fight he wants. That’s the one he talks about all the time.”
Fury, who announced his fifth retirement in January, suffered the only two defeats of his professional career to Usyk in 2024, losing both bouts on points.
The Morecambe star came close to being stopped in their first encounter before losing a second close decision in the rematch.
Warren dismissed suggestions that Fury is past his prime, insisting the 36-year-old knows what he has left in the tank.
“He hasn’t got a lot of miles on the clock. He’s nobody’s fool, he’s a very smart guy, he knows better than you and me what he’s got left,” Warren explained.
“He’s a fighting man, and if he decides that he’s going to move forward and do it, he’ll do it. He’s not a stupid guy who’s clutching at straws.”
Despite fans clamoring for an overdue pairing with Joshua, Fury appears non-committal to the fight that has eluded British boxing for years.
The two heavyweight stars have been on a collision course since their emergence in the 2010s, but have failed to settle their differences despite several attempts to make the bout happen.
With time quickly passing in their respective careers, Joshua’s team remains uncertain if a clash with Fury will ever materialize.
Usyk’s last bout came in July when he defeated Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium, but other heavyweights, including Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel, are also waiting in the wings for their shot at the Ukrainian.