Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have long debated who should hold Britain’s premier heavyweight boxer title; yet neither man has resolved their differences inside of a ring. Now it appears Fury may move on: his comments calling Joshua a coward that can never be made into fighting has led him back towards Oleksandr Usyk calling for another trilogy match-up between Usyk and him (two victories is not enough! ).
Fury hit out publicly against Joshua on social media, accusing him of backing down again following 11 years of rivalry. Fury issued his challenge directly at Usyk and dared him to face him three times this November for another meeting; Fury also stated he may seek new opposition if Joshua continues avoiding confrontation.
The ongoing saga between Fury and Joshua has seen numerous twists over the past several weeks. The prospect of a Fury vs. Joshua fight has lingered for years but repeatedly unraveled, with near-agreements collapsing in both 2021 and 2022.
This year, optimism resurged as reports increasingly suggested that terms had finally been agreed upon. However, complications quickly surfaced, sparked by controversy around promotion rights. Dana White’s involvement through his promotion partners drew backlash and escalated tensions with Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter.
Disputes over venue further complicated negotiations. Joshua’s contract specifies the fight must take place in the UK, with Hearn pushing for Wembley Stadium, while other parties favored Madison Square Garden in New York. This disagreement intensified when Fury’s team revealed an amended contract clause permitting the fight “anywhere in the world,” which Fury used to pressure Joshua into signing.
Despite endorsement from London’s mayor urging both fighters to consider Wembley and some optimistic hints from Hearn about progress, the situation took another turn. Reports emerged that Hearn intends to take legal action against TKO Group for bypassing Matchroom Boxing and dealing directly with Joshua about a U.S. venue.
While fans await clarity on the Joshua fight, Fury’s callout to Usyk adds a new dimension to the heavyweight landscape.
Tyson Fury Targets Oleksandr Usyk Once More: Can He Make It Happen?
Fury has expressed dissatisfaction with the outcomes of his two previous bouts against Usyk, believing he was unfairly judged both times. Their first encounter was tightly contested, ending in a split decision victory for Usyk. Their rematch saw a more definitive win for Usyk, but Fury remains convinced he deserves to win the trilogy to settle the score.
However, whether Usyk is willing to accept Fury’s challenge is another question entirely.
Following his rematch victory over Fury, Usyk achieved undisputed champion status for the third time after knocking out Daniel Dubois last July. Entering 2026, Usyk has outlined plans for the final phase of his career.
His recent fight against Rico Verhoeven demonstrated vulnerabilities, as the contest extended into the 11th round before a controversial stoppage. Subsequently, Usyk vacated his WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles to prepare for what he calls his “last dance.”
Usyk is now reportedly in talks to face former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in the United States, with discussions aiming at a March 2027 date. Prior to this, he also showed interest in a potential boxing match with former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, though Jones expressed disinterest in boxing Usyk specifically.
Considering these developments, Usyk appears to have ample time to weigh Fury’s offer.
Fury believes there is financial motivation for Usyk to agree to a third fight, describing himself earlier this year as a “cash cow” and predicting Usyk will eventually want the lucrative matchup.
Nevertheless, Usyk may prioritize opponents who provide commercial appeal or unique challenges as he approaches retirement, making a risky fight against Fury less appealing due to the potential damage to his undefeated record.
At this stage, many factors remain uncertain.
Fury has long made use of provocative comments in order to pressure his rivals into signing contracts, so his latest remarks could also be seen as part of a plan aimed at applying pressure to Joshua and his camp.
In the coming days, it will be crucial in deciding if Fury and Joshua finally meet, or whether Fury shifts his attention completely towards Usyk for a trilogy fight.