On Monday 7 September 2026, Oleksandr Usyk's manager dismissed Tyson Fury's call for a third fight with the Ukrainian, as doubt continues over an all-British heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua.
Negotiations for the long-awaited Fury-Joshua bout have been stuck for months over a disagreement about the location for the proposed November clash. Fury took to social media on Monday to say he was looking for a new opponent.
Fury said he wants a third fight with Usyk, who became undisputed heavyweight champion by beating Fury twice on points in 2024.
In a statement to Sky Sports News on Monday evening, Usyk's manager Sergey Lapin said: "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 announced in June that he was vacating the three heavyweight belts he still held, but the 39-year-old said he was not retiring. He has recently been linked with a fight against Deontay Wilder.
Usyk holds a perfect 25-0 professional record and claimed successive wins over Joshua in 2021 and 2022. Over the last year, he has become part of Joshua's training team.
Both Joshua and Fury have signed individual contracts for what was slated to be a November contest, but they have yet to agree on a venue. Speculation suggests it could be held in New York City.
Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn says he and his fighter want the fight in London, while Fury says his rival is trying to avoid a bout that has been more than a decade in the making.
In a video posted on Instagram, Fury said: "This will only lead me to a fight with Oleksandr Usyk. Oleksandr you're his [Joshua's] trainer and his sensei and you know he is weak minded… and that he would never fight the Gypsy King which you have had the guts to do twice. You got the decisions last time, fair play to you. Good luck to you, let's do it again. 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? Let me know because I am now looking for a new opponent."
