According to Sky Sports News reporting on Monday, Oleksandr Usyk’s manager Sergey Lapin has dismissed Tyson Fury’s call for a third fight with the Ukrainian heavyweight, stating that Usyk is not a backup plan for Fury while negotiations for an all-British bout with Anthony Joshua face venue disputes.
Tyson Fury Seeks Trilogy Bout After Joshua Talks Stall
Tyson Fury declared on social media on Monday that he was looking for a new opponent after protracted negotiations over a long-awaited bout with Anthony Joshua hit a roadblock over location. According to Sky Sports News, Fury targeted a third fight with Usyk, who beat Fury twice on points in 2024.
In a video posted to Instagram, Fury challenged the Ukrainian fighter directly. “Let’s run it back in November. The ball is now in your court… do you want to fight me this year, 2026, or are you calling it quits?” Fury said, according to Sky Sports News coverage. While separate agreements have been inked by both men for an intended November showdown, venue discussions remain unresolved, with New York City rumored as a potential site.
Sergey Lapin Responds: Usyk Is Not a Backup Plan
Responding to Fury’s public statements, Usyk’s manager Sergey Lapin issued a direct rejection via Sky Sports News on Monday evening. “Usyk is not Tyson’s back-up plan,” Lapin stated. “If Fury needs an opponent, he should visit the Ready to Fight platform. They can help him find a worthy opponent there.”
Lapin emphasized that the unbeaten 39-year-old fighter requires formal business dealings rather than social media callouts. “Oleksandr is always open to big challenges. But serious intentions are backed by a concrete offer, not statements in the press,” Lapin told Sky Sports News.
Did you know? Oleksandr Usyk holds a perfect 25-0 professional record and claimed successive wins over Joshua in 2021 and 2022, before doing the same against Fury twice in 2024.
Venue Disagreements Threaten Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury
The stalled negotiations between Fury and Joshua hinge primarily on geographical preference. Promoter Eddie Hearn maintains that he and Joshua prefer a London showdown, whereas Fury contends that his adversary is ducking a clash more than ten years in the making. Meanwhile, alternative locations such as New York’s Madison Square Garden are also being considered.
Fury accused his rival of attempting to avoid a matchup that has been more than a decade in the making. In his social media address, Fury claimed Joshua was “weak minded” and would “never fight the Gypsy King”. Conversely, Joshua has maintained his focus on the bout while recently training with Usyk in the latter’s native Ukraine following a car accident in December in which AJ was injured and two of his teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, were killed, as reported by The Independent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Tyson Fury call out Oleksandr Usyk?
Tyson Fury called out Oleksandr Usyk for a third fight after talks for his November bout against Anthony Joshua stalled over venue disagreements.
What did Usyk’s team say about Fury’s offer?
According to Sky Sports News, Usyk’s manager Sergey Lapin stated that Usyk is not a back-up plan and that serious challenges require concrete offers rather than press statements.
Are Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury still scheduled to fight?
The pair have each put pen to paper on separate agreements for a targeted November bout, though talks are still working to finalize the venue, with New York City mentioned as a potential host site.
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