Oleksandr Usyk's manager dismisses Tyson Fury's offer to be 'backup plan' for Anthony Joshua fight amid doubt over heavyweight clash
A long-awaited heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has been stuck in negotiations in recent months amid an apparent disagreement over the location for the proposed clash in November; Fury called out Oleksandr Usyk on Monday
Monday 7 September 2026 21:26, UK
Oleksandr Usyk's manager has dismissed Tyson Fury's call for a third fight with the Ukrainian amid continued doubt over an all-British heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua.
With protracted negotiations over a long-awaited Fury-Joshua bout being held up by a dispute over where the fight would take place, 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 as he beat Fury twice on points in 2024.
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Responding to Fury's comments in a statement given 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 at the time, but the 39-year-old said he was not yet retiring, and has recently been linked with a fight against Deontay Wilder.
Usyk, who holds a perfect 25-0 professional record, claimed successive wins over Joshua in 2021 and 2022, but has become part of the Brit's training team over the last year.
Both Joshua and Fury have signed individual contracts for what was slated to be a November contest, but have yet to agree on where the fight will take place, with speculation suggesting it could be held in New York City.
Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn says he and his fighter want the contest to take place in London, while Fury says his rival is trying to avoid a bout that has been more than a decade in the making.
"This will only lead me to a fight with Oleksandr Usyk," Fury said in a video posted on Instagram.
"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."
