The long-awaited showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua appears to have hit another roadblock, with Fury now shifting his attention back to Oleksandr Usyk.
For years, boxing fans have waited for Fury and Joshua to finally settle their rivalry inside the ring. A November 20 clash at Madison Square Garden in New York had emerged as the frontrunner, but ongoing negotiations have reportedly stalled the blockbuster all-British showdown.
Now, Tyson Fury after Usyk is once again becoming one of the biggest talking points in heavyweight boxing.
Fury recently lashed out at Joshua and his team, accusing them of dragging their feet during negotiations. The former heavyweight champion took to social media to claim that Joshua was avoiding the fight and instead issued a direct challenge to the man who handed him two defeats in 2024.
“So, it looks like AJ has st his pants yet again,” Fury said. “After 11 years, he’s finally st his pants yet again.So, this would only lead me to a fight with Oleksandr Usyk. Oleksandr, you’re his trainer and his sensei, and you know he’s a weak-minded piece of s**t, and he would never fight ‘The Gypsy King,’ which you’ve had the guts to do twice, and you know how difficult it is in there.”
“Listen, you got the decisions last time. Fair play to you. Good luck to you, but let’s do it again. Let’s run it back in November,” Fury continued. “The ball is now in your court, Oleksandr. Do you want to fight me this year in 2026, or are you calling it quits? Let me know because I’m now looking for a new opponent.”
The comments come amid growing uncertainty surrounding Fury’s next fight. Promoters on both sides have struggled to finalize terms for the Joshua matchup, with disagreements reportedly centered on venue selection and financial arrangements.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has maintained that his fighter’s agreement is for a bout in the United Kingdom, while Fury’s camp has shown greater flexibility regarding location. Saudi-backed promotional company Sela is reportedly pushing for a New York event to maximize global exposure through Netflix.
While Fury appears eager to secure a third fight with Usyk, many fans remain divided on whether the matchup is necessary.
Usyk defeated Fury twice in 2024, winning both contests by decision. Although the bouts were competitive, neither result sparked significant controversy, leaving some questioning what a third meeting would add to the rivalry.
Still, Fury clearly believes unfinished business remains.
The former heavyweight champion last competed in July, stopping veteran Mariusz Wach in seven rounds during a bout in Thailand. Joshua also fought that same weekend, scoring a second-round stoppage victory over Kristian Prenga despite being dropped twice in the opening round.
Those victories were widely viewed as tune-up fights designed to set up the long-awaited Fury-Joshua clash. However, with negotiations now seemingly stalled, Fury has turned his focus elsewhere.
If Usyk declines the offer, Fury has already floated other potential opponents, including Agit Kabayel, Filip Hrgovic, and Daniel Dubois.
For now, though, the message from Fury is clear: if Anthony Joshua isn’t stepping into the ring, he wants another shot at Oleksandr Usyk.
