By Kabiru Abdulrauf
Former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has ruled out an immediate showdown with fellow Briton Anthony Joshua, instead setting his sights on a third bout with Oleksandr Usyk, according to his promoter, Frank Warren.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Warren revealed that Fury remains determined to avenge his back-to-back defeats to the Ukrainian, who currently holds all four major heavyweight titles.
“The fight he really wants is another go with Usyk; he really wants that,” Warren said. “They were great fights, really close fights and that’s the one he talks about all the time.”
Fury, who briefly announced his retirement from boxing in January, suffered the only two defeats of his professional career to Usyk in 2024, losing both on points. The first bout saw the Morecambe-born fighter come close to being stopped before narrowly losing the rematch in a tightly contested decision.
Despite growing speculation that the 36-year-old is nearing the end of his career, Warren dismissed suggestions that Fury is past his prime.
Fury’s decision effectively sidelines the long-anticipated “Battle of Britain” against Joshua, a fight that has been in discussion for nearly a decade but has repeatedly collapsed at the negotiation stage.
Joshua, a former unified champion, has rebuilt momentum with a series of impressive wins, but with Fury prioritising a Usyk trilogy, it remains uncertain if fans will ever witness the all-British clash that once promised to define an era.
Meanwhile, Usyk, who last fought in July when he defeated Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium, continues to dominate the division, though other contenders such as Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel are also queuing for a title shot.
For Fury, the road back to redemption and possibly retirement runs through one man: Oleksandr Usyk.
