Sorry, boxing fans: if Tyson Fury beats Oleksandr Usyk this weekend in Riyadh, we won’t be seeing him fight Anthony Joshua.
Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua has been a white whale for combat sports enthusiasts, and its absence is palpable even amid the various heavyweight fights taking place in Saudi Arabia. One notable bout is Usyk vs. Fury 2, a sequel to the fight that saw Usyk become the unified heavyweight champion through a split decision victory.
Heading into Saturday’s superfight, Tyson Fury appears more confident than ever, claiming he fought at only 40% of his potential in their first encounter. Now promising to unleash 110%, Fury is determined to dominate Usyk and pave the way for a trilogy.
“When I win on Saturday, I think there’s got to be a trilogy next year for sure,” Fury shared with Saudi network Al Arabiya. “Fighting Usyk on Saturday, followed by one more, would be fantastic for me. It’s not about revenge; it’s about me smashing his face in. There’s no way I’m walking away after this. All great dance partners have trilogies. Facts.”
As for a potential clash with Anthony Joshua?
“Joshua’s in tatters,” Fury boldly asserted. “He has got to pick up the pieces from his last fight.”
Anthony Joshua was riding a strong wave of momentum after losing his matches to Usyk in 2021-2022. Following that, he secured four consecutive wins, including three by stoppage, before suffering a shocking knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September.
In a recent revelation, Tyson Fury mentioned during training for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk that he hasn’t spoken to his wife, Paris, in three months. “I’ve not spoke to Paris in 3 months, not a word. I’ve not spoke to anyone… I don’t want to keep switching between beast mode, dad mode, and wife mode…”
While Riyadh Season organizer Turki Alalshikh has expressed that Fury vs. Joshua remains high on his priority list, he acknowledges that existing contracts cannot be ignored. According to Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, a third fight with Usyk is already contractually signed in the event they win the rematch.
“It does happen because it’s contracted,” Warren stated to Boxing News. “Whatever unfolds, that will stand true if Tyson wins—assuming nobody retires.”
Ultimately, everything hinges on what transpires this Saturday in Riyadh between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. How do you predict their dramatic rematch will play out, Maniacs? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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