Fury Claims Joshua Bout Is Off, Calls For Usyk Trilogy

Tyson Fury has claimed his long-awaited heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua is off and challenged Oleksandr Usyk to a third fight in November.

Fury and Joshua have been negotiating a lucrative all-British clash, but the proposed bout has been held up by disagreements over the date, venue and financial arrangements.

The former heavyweight champion expressed his frustration in a video posted on social media, claiming Joshua was backing out of the fight and accusing his fellow Briton of being unwilling to face him.

Fury subsequently turned his attention to Usyk, whom he has fought twice and lost to on both occasions.

The 38-year-old challenged the Ukrainian to meet him for a third time in November, asking whether Usyk was prepared to fight before the end of 2026 or was considering retirement.

Fury said he was now looking for a new opponent after claiming the Joshua negotiations had broken down.

The proposed Fury-Joshua fight had been widely expected to take place in November, with New York’s Madison Square Garden emerging as a possible venue. However, Joshua’s camp has preferred Wembley Stadium, while the parties financing and promoting the event have reportedly favoured a United States location.

Fury’s latest comments have therefore thrown the highly anticipated British heavyweight showdown into further uncertainty.

However, Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has rejected the suggestion that Joshua has simply withdrawn from the fight, maintaining that a legally binding agreement exists and that discussions over the venue remain central to the dispute.

Fury and Usyk have already shared two major heavyweight encounters. Usyk defeated Fury by split decision in their first meeting in May 2024 before winning their December rematch by unanimous decision.

Usyk subsequently vacated his heavyweight titles earlier this year and has indicated that he wants one final major fight before ending his career.

A third meeting with Fury would therefore provide an opportunity for the British fighter to attempt to reverse the results of their first two encounters.

For now, Fury is pushing for the trilogy while negotiations surrounding the Joshua fight remain unresolved, leaving the heavyweight division waiting to see which blockbuster contest will ultimately materialise.