Oleksander Usyk won’t be a ’back-up plan’ if Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is called off

Oleksander Usyk (left) vacated his three heavyweight world titles in June and said he wanted one “last dance” fight before retirement. He beat Tyson Fury twice in 2024. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Oleksandr Usyk won’t be Tyson Fury’s “back-up plan” after Fury challenged Usyk to a trilogy fight because he can’t nail down a long-awaited bout with Anthony Joshua.

Negotiations for a lucrative all-British fight between former heavyweight champions Fury and Joshua have dragged on without a firm date or venue, and key financial questions remain open.

In a video packed with insults and expletives on Instagram late Sunday, Fury laid the blame on Joshua, branding him “weak-minded” and suggesting he lacked the courage to take the fight. “This will only lead me to a fight with Oleksandr Usyk,” Fury said.

But Usyk’s manager, Sergey Lapin, said in a statement to Sky Sports News that “Usyk is not Tyson’s backup plan. 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.”

Usyk (25-0) vacated his three heavyweight world titles in June and said he wanted one “last dance” fight before retirement. He beat Fury twice in 2024.

“Let’s do it again. Let’s run it back in November,” Fury said. “The ball is now in your court, Oleksandr. Do you want to fight me this year, 2026, or are you calling quits? Let me know because I am now looking for a new opponent.”

Fury (36-2-1) and Joshua (30-4) both won tune-up fights in July that were expected to be a prelude to their all-British bout.

(With inputs from The Associated Press)