The path to a third fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury is no longer as straightforward as it once seemed, with Usyk making clear that an Anthony Joshua bout could reshape his plans.
A third fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury remains on the table, but Usyk says that could change if Fury finalizes a showdown with Anthony Joshua. The unified heavyweight champion, who holds the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, said his long-term plan is still intact even as the division’s biggest names continue to circle one another.
That matters because the heavyweight division is again at a crossroads. For American fans, a Fury-Joshua fight would be the kind of crossover event boxing has chased for years, while a Usyk-Fury trilogy would deliver a cleaner sporting answer after their rivalry helped define the modern era at heavyweight.
Usyk said his roadmap has not changed despite reports of movement toward Fury vs. Joshua. He added that he expects to have three more fights before retiring and still sees a third meeting with Fury as part of that plan, although the situation has become more complicated.
At the same time, Usyk acknowledged that Fury has not yet signed a contract for a Joshua bout. But if that deal does get done, Usyk indicated he would step aside because he wants Joshua to beat Fury.
That is a revealing stance in a division where timing often matters as much as talent. If Fury faces Joshua next, Usyk’s own schedule could shift toward preserving his belts, waiting for the winner, or moving closer to the final stretch of his career on different terms. If Joshua were to beat Fury, the entire heavyweight conversation would change, especially for U.S. audiences that have long viewed Joshua-Fury as one of boxing’s biggest unfinished matchups.
Usyk also pointed out that Fury recently had what he described as a tune-up fight and said it would be fair for Joshua to get a similar opportunity. For now, the biggest question is whether Fury and Joshua can actually get a contract over the line — because if they do, Usyk may be forced to watch the next move from the sidelines before deciding how to close his career.
