Oleksandr Usyk will not be Tyson Fury’s “back-up plan”, according to the Ukrainian’s trainer, after Fury called out his old foe amid stalled talks with Anthony Joshua.
This year, for the second time in their careers, Joshua and Fury signed to fight each other, but a fresh contract dispute emerged this summer.
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Joshua, 36, is only contracted to box his fellow Briton on home soil, while 38-year-old Fury has a contract that is more flexible on location.
Oleksandr Usyk (right) and Tyson Fury during their second fight (Getty)
As such, “AJ” and his promoter Eddie Hearn have been digging their heels in when it comes to boxing in the UK, while Fury has pushed Joshua to accept a clash at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
Fury has also insisted he will fight on 20 November, whether it is against Joshua or not, and last week he called out Daniel Dubois, Agit Kabayel and Filip Hrgovic, before adding Usyk’s name this week.
However, “Usyk is not Tyson’s back-up plan,” Usyk’s trainer Sergey Lapin told Sky Sports.
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“If Fury needs an opponent, he should visit the Ready To Fight platform. They can help him find a worthy opponent there.”
Lapin was referring to an app, launched by Usyk’s team, which helps fighters to find sparring partners, coaches and managers.
“Oleksandr is always open to big challenges, but serious intentions are backed by a concrete offer, not statements in the press,” Lapin concluded.
Fury had earlier said of this frustrations with Joshua: “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.
Anthony Joshua with Usyk after their second clash (PA Wire)
“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.”
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Fury and Usyk fought each other twice in 2024, with Usyk winning on points both times to remain unbeaten and hand Fury the sole losses of his professional career.
Most recently, Usyk stopped kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven in a boxing match at the pyramids of Giza in May. However, the stoppage was controversial and came after Usyk struggled against the boxing novice.
In the aftermath of the fight, Usyk vacated the unified heavyweight titles and said he will compete one more time before retiring.
The Ukrainian, 39, is also a former opponent of Joshua, whom he outpointed in 2021 and 2022. However, the pair struck up a friendship this year, with Usyk helping to coach AJ.
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