Oleksandr Usyk’s trainer has dismissed the idea that Usyk is merely a fallback option for Tyson Fury, following Fury’s recent callout to Usyk amid stalled negotiations with Anthony Joshua. This year marked the second occasion Joshua and Fury agreed to fight, but a new contract disagreement arose this summer.
Joshua, 36, has a contract limiting him to fighting fellow Britons only in the UK, whereas the 38-year-old Fury’s deal allows more flexibility regarding fight locations. Consequently, Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn have been reluctant to agree to a bout in the UK, while Fury has pushed for the fight to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Fury has stated he will compete on November 20 regardless of whether he faces Joshua and recently called out several contenders including Daniel Dubois, Agit Kabayel, Filip Hrgovic, and now Usyk. However, Sergey Lapin, Usyk’s coach, told Sky Sports that Usyk is not Fury’s secondary choice. He suggested that if Fury is seeking an opponent, he should explore the “Ready To Fight” app, launched by Usyk’s team to connect fighters with sparring partners, coaches, and managers. Lapin emphasized that Usyk welcomes significant challenges but only when there is a serious offer, not just media talk.
Fury has expressed frustration with Joshua, hinting that their ongoing issues might lead to a fight with Usyk. He acknowledged Usyk’s previous victories over him and invited Usyk to face him again in November, stating the decision lies with Usyk.
Earlier this year, Fury and Usyk met twice, with Usyk winning on points both times, handing Fury his only professional losses. More recently, Usyk defeated kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven in a controversial stoppage during a match at the Pyramids of Giza in May. After the fight, Usyk vacated the unified heavyweight titles and announced plans for one final match before retirement.
The 39-year-old Ukrainian, who previously defeated Joshua twice in 2021 and 2022, has developed a friendship with Joshua and even helped coach him this year.
Fan Take:
This development is significant for boxing fans because it highlights the evolving dynamics at the top of the heavyweight division, with Usyk asserting his status as a premier contender rather than a fallback opponent. The potential for a high-stakes Fury-Usyk rematch or a renewed rivalry with Joshua adds thrilling uncertainty and could reshape the heavyweight landscape in the near future.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
