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Will Tyson Fury fight Anthony Joshua? Will Gypsy King take a trilogy contest with Oleksandr Usyk instead?

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Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have been linked with a huge all-British clash for years. With Fury on the cusp of his world title fight with Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night in Riyadh, shown live on TNT Sports Box Office, there is speculation that the Briton could finally move onto a fight against Joshua in 2025. Fury, his promoters and Eddie Hearn all have had their say in the recent past.

The two fighters have circled one another for a decade, but will Tyson Fury finally fight Anthony Joshua?
Fury fights Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night, live on TNT Sports Box Office, and whether he wins or loses, most British fight fans will hope that before Joshua and Fury step away from the sport, they will finally settle their rivalry.
The two almost fought a few years ago, before they were sidetracked, in part, by Usyk.
In 2021 it seemed set that the two Britons would meet in the ring for an undisputed clash in their next fights, but ultimately, Fury was forced to honour an obligation to take on Deontay Wilder in his trilogy rematch, which he duly won.
While he retained his WBC crown, Joshua found himself teed up to defend his three belts against Usyk, who was getting used to the heavyweight division after moving up from cruiserweight.
Ultimately, the Ukrainian would win both of his two fights against Joshua to set up an undisputed clash with Fury, which he won in May. That leads us to now, with several options ahead for Fury.
  • What is Fury’s boxing record? Has Usyk ever lost? Who is pound-for-pound best?
  • What could Fury do next after second Usyk bout? Trilogy? AJ super fight? Retire?

Fury: ‘It would be a travesty if we didn’t fight’

Speaking to TNT Sports, Fury said earlier in the year that it would be a huge disappointment if he and Joshua did not meet.
“At the end of the day, it would be a travesty if we didn’t fight,” Fury said.
“No matter if he [Joshua] loses 20 more fights. If he doesn’t win another fight and has 10 years away from the game, it doesn’t matter, we have to fight.”

Arum – Joshua is ‘the one fight’

For Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum, he thinks Fury still has Joshua on his mind, particularly if he wins the three belts on Saturday.
“The one fight that [Fury] is looking to if he beats Usyk is Joshua … that fight has been talked about for as long as I can remember,” reported BoxingScene.
He added that Turki Alalshikh would look to deliver the clash at Wembley, rather than in Riyadh.
“I think Turki would look for that fight to happen with his participation in Wembley,” Arum added, as well as saying a Joshua fight could come “instead of” an Usyk trilogy.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Warren – Fury and Usyk will fight trilogy

For Fury’s other promoter, Frank Warren, he believes Usyk is the next opponent come what may.
That means that any Fury v Joshua clash would not be feasible at least until the second half of 2025, but if Usyk retains all belts on Saturday, it is far from impossible he may choose to retire, which would clear the way for the British extravaganza.
“It’s contracted, and whatever happens,” Warren told Boxing News. “That will be the case if Tyson wins, providing nobody retires.”

Hearn – Joshua wants Fury or Dubois next

Joshua’s latest fight was a defeat to Daniel Dubois in September, losing out on the chance to become a three-time world champion.
It had been hoped by many that a win against Dubois would give Joshua and Fury the chance to bring all four belts back for another undisputed clash, but that now seems unlikely.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, thinks that Joshua wants either Dubois or Fury next, and has no interest in any other fighter.
“It’s weird saying it after a knockout defeat but AJ is actually in a really good position,” Hearn told BBC Sport.
“We’re going to fight Dubois or Fury next. That’s it. No other interest or warm-up.”
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Tyson Fury ready to forgive Anthony Joshua with £150million message to rival

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Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury was left fuming by Anthony Joshua’s defeat by Daniel Dubois – but is willing to put their differences aside for the sake of £150m

Tyson Fury is willing to overlook Anthony Joshua’s defeat by Daniel Dubois for a potential £150 million showdown.

Joshua, who was expected to triumph over Dubois at Wembley in September, suffered a shocking loss, being knocked down four times and defeated within five rounds. From his ringside position, Fury lambasted his fallen foe, accusing him of blowing a colossal nine-figure payday. Despite initial concerns that Joshua’s demand for a high-stakes rematch with Dubois might derail the long-awaited resolution to his ten-year rivalry with Fury, the Olympic gold medallist has chosen to play it safe.

He will now wait for the result of Fury’s Saturday night rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, whom Fury lost to in May, forfeiting his world title and the opportunity to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. If Fury regains his title, calls for a historic trilogy fight with the two-weight kingpin next year will be inevitable.

However, Fury seems more enticed by what he perceives as an easier bout against fellow two-time champion Joshua, a fight that nearly materialised in 2021 before Fury was mandated to face Deontay Wilder again. Ahead of his fourth career rematch, Fury declared: “I don’t want to work for f*** all. I want as much as I can get. I want the easiest fights possible for the largest amounts of money possible.”

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

“I don’t want the toughest fights possible for the least amount of money. I wasn’t born in a Christmas cracker. I meant what I said about Joshua costing me £150m. We would have had a two-fight deal lined up for a s*** tonne of money. Unfortunately, doors open, doors close; that’s what it is. But it doesn’t… here’s the thing I said the other day; what does it matter if you’ve been knocked out twice or whatever, four, five times, or six or seven? What does it matter? Does it really matter if he has another loss or not? It doesn’t matter, it’s still a great fight.”

Fury could face Joshua even if he follows his countryman in losing to Usyk for a second time this weekend. Joshua is expected to return to the ring in May which could see a meeting with Fury held in the UK rather than in Saudi Arabia. Such a ‘battle of the losers’ would still earn both fighters staggering purses even if there was no world title on the line. And Fury, who will split a £150m pot with Usyk, admitted lining his pockets is his only remaining motivation. “I don’t care about my legacy,” he added.

“Legacy is my kids. One thing I do care about is my family, my kids and providing for them, looking after them; that’s it. I’m only doing it for the money, obviously. All prizefighters, if they tell the truth, do it for the money, don’t they? Who here is not doing it for the money?”

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Tyson Fury reveals status of Anthony Joshua showdown ahead of Usyk rematch

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Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury insisted he was motivated by money not legacy with a lucrative showdown against Anthony Joshua still firmly on his radar.

Fury is aiming to seize the WBA, WBC and WBO world heavyweight titles held by Oleksandr Usyk when they meet for the second time at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on Saturday.

Whatever the outcome, the ‘Gypsy King’ believes there will always be appetite for a domestic clash with Joshua even though his rival’s star has waned after his crushing fifth-round knockout by Daniel Dubois in September.

Fury was ringside at Wembley to watch Joshua’s dramatic defeat and was caught on camera saying “that’s cost me £150million, the silly c***” – a comment he insists he meant.

“Of course I did. We would have had a two-fight deal lined up for a s*** ton of money. Unfortunately doors open, doors close,” Fury said. “Does it really matter if he has another loss or not? It doesn’t matter. It’s still a big fight.

“Even if he goes in against Dubois and he gets knocked out again – which he would – that doesn’t mean it’s a s*** fight now. It’s still a great fight. It’s a great fight that we all want to see.”

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Usyk was crowned undisputed champion with a split decision victory in May before relinquishing the IBF belt, which was awarded to sanctioning body’s number one challenger Dubois.

Fury earned close to £100m for their first fight but, as challenger, will take the lower percentage for the rematch, which is reported to be worth a combined £150m.

The 36-year-old insisted that the financial rewards were the only reason he continued to box.

“Legacy is my kids. I care about my family, my kids, providing for them, looking after them. That’s it,” he said. “I’m only doing it for the money. All prize fighters, if they tell the truth, do it for the money. Who here is not doing it for the money?

“I don’t want to work for f*** all. I want as much as I can get. I want the easiest fights possible for the largest amounts of money possible. I don’t want the toughest fights possible for the least amount of money. I wasn’t born in a Christmas cracker.”

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Usyk’s Bold Claim: Joshua in Top 5 Despite Losses

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Anthony Joshua 

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has included former two-time champion Anthony Joshua in his list of top five boxers in the world despite defeating the British-Nigerian twice, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Ukrainian, who is preparing for his heavyweight title rematch against Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 21, made the surprise inclusion during an interview with DAZN.
Usyk, who handed Fury his first professional defeat in May, named pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford and super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez as his top two choices before adding Joshua to the list.
The inclusion comes as a surprise following Joshua’s recent knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September, his fourth professional loss.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently revealed that the 34-year-old is still “hurting” from the devastating loss to Dubois, who dropped him four times before securing a fifth-round stoppage.
“Yeah, he is hurting. He took a pasting at times in that fight and I think he has got his back up and he wants to come back stronger,” Hearn told talkSPORT.
Despite their rivalry, Usyk also included Fury in his top five, alongside undefeated Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue, who continues to dominate the bantamweight division.
Fury has promised a different approach in the rematch, vowing to knock out the Ukrainian. “Last time, I went to box him, I was being cautious. This time I’m not going for a points decision. I’m going to knock that motherf****r out,” the Brit declared.
The winner of the December 21 clash could potentially face Joshua in 2024, with Hearn confirming his fighter has no plans to retire despite calls from several boxing personalities.

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Usyk’s Bold Claim: Joshua in Top 5 Despite Losses

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Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has made a surprising statement, naming former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua among his top five boxers in the world. This declaration comes despite Usyk’s dominant victories over Joshua in their two previous encounters.

As Usyk prepares for his highly anticipated rematch against Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 21st, he revealed his top five list during an interview with DAZN. The Ukrainian sensation placed pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford and super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez at the top of his list. Following closely behind, he named Anthony Joshua, a fighter he has clearly outclassed in the ring.

Joshua’s recent career trajectory has been marked by setbacks, most notably his devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September. This defeat, which saw Joshua dropped multiple times before the fight was halted, has significantly impacted his reputation. Despite this, Usyk’s inclusion of Joshua in his top five highlights the Ukrainian’s respect for his opponent’s skill and past achievements.

Usyk’s top five list is rounded out by Tyson Fury and undefeated Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue. Fury, who is aiming to avenge his loss to Usyk, has promised a more aggressive approach in the rematch, vowing to knock out the Ukrainian. Inoue, on the other hand, continues to dominate the bantamweight division with his exceptional boxing skills and devastating power.

The winner of the Usyk-Fury rematch could potentially face Joshua in 2024, as the British fighter has no plans to retire despite calls from various boxing figures. This potential matchup would undoubtedly be a highly anticipated clash between two of the biggest names in heavyweight boxing.

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Anthony Joshua & Lennox Lewis Agree on Who Will Win Usyk vs Fury 2

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Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk

The hotly-anticipated rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is just around the corner, with the Gypsy King looking to avenge a heartbreaking loss to his rival earlier this year.

Usyk defeated Fury in Riyadh to hand him his first-ever professional defeat, and became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 in the process. The WBC, WBA, and WBO belts will all be on the line this time round, with Usyk relinquishing the IBF title shortly after beating Fury. That title is now held by Daniel Dubois, who was upgraded from interim champion and will defend that title in February against Joseph Parker.

The rematch is set for the 21st of December, and Lewis, along with other top names in the boxing scene, have been giving their predictions about who will come out on top this time.

Oleksandr Usyk & Tyson Fury’s pro boxing records (as of 13/12/24)
Oleksandr Usyk Tyson Fury
Fights 22 36
Wins 22 34
Losses 0 1
Draws 0 1

Lennox Lewis & Anthony Joshua Both Back Oleksandr Usyk

Lewis, with 41 wins from 44 fights, and despite initially throwing his support behind Fury, is now under the impression that Usyk is on the top of his game and will be hard to stop.

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk

Lewis told Droeks On Boxing: “Well, I cannot go against Usyk. He has proven himself time and time again, and he is still undefeated. It really comes down to who boxes the best. Who’s smart in the ring? I didn’t think Tyson Fury was smart in the first fight. I think he played around a little bit too much, and allowed Usyk to really pile up the points. Usyk is a difficult opponent. He moves all the time, he’s always throwing punches, he’s in great shape, and that’s hard to beat.”

Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua, who was ringside for the first fight in May, can tell you first hand what it is like to be in the ring with Usyk, having lost to him twice. He also believes the Ukrainian will come out on top once again. He told Queensberry Promotions: “I think it’s going to be a tough fight early on, and then I feel like Usyk will edge it again. He’s a class operator, so I think Usyk’s one of the best out there. That’s why I think he will win.”

Other Fighters Have Their Say

Derek Chisora, Carl Frampton, and Amir Khan have all cast their picks

Another British fighter who isn’t backing Fury to win is Derek Chisora. He has been in the ring with both men, losing on a total of four occasions (including a trilogy with Fury). He said: “[Usyk] is still the same, bro. It’s gonna be a good fight, we’re gonna see a little bit of difference, but you have to understand: Tyson will come a little bit different, but Usyk will come a little bit different [as well]. But as the scales hit right now, my money’s still edging on Usyk.”

Someone who is backing Fury, however, is another former world champion, Carl Frampton, as he said: “I fancy Fury. My mind hasn’t really swayed from start to finish, which is strange in a fight of this magnitude; I’ve been saying Fury from the start. I think Fury is in the zone now, he’s serious, he’s ready to fight. Both guys seem to be very, very confident. Both, I think, know it’s going to be a difficult fight.”

Amir Khan similarly backed Fury to right his wrong from May, with the former world champion saying: “I just lean more towards Tyson in this fight. As we get closer to the fight, I feel like Tyson might be a little too thin. We know Fury can fight on his back foot, but we just don’t know what to expect […] Let’s see, I’m gonna stick with Fury to win the fight, but there could be a few scares.”

So the boxing world is split over who they believe will win. One thing is for sure, it will be sure to be a massive clash between two of boxing’s best.

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Bellew backs Joshua’s return against Dubois

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Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua 

Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has backed Anthony Joshua to return to the ring for a rematch with Daniel Dubois, even as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk prepare for their highly anticipated December 21 heavyweight unification bout in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to Spaceport Sweden, Bellew expressed confidence in Joshua’s ability to bounce back from his shocking September defeat to Dubois at Wembley Stadium, where he lost by knockout.

“I wouldn’t doubt that he’ll be back for a single second. As long as he’s still hungry and has the desire, he’ll be back,” Bellew said.

The former champion believes Joshua, who has earned over $200m in his career, including $75m from fights in 2024 alone, will take his time before making any decisions about his future.

“It’s a smart move to sit and wait. Just let it all unfold in front of you and then all he has to do is decide in January. Enjoy Christmas, and enjoy your New Year. Enjoy your time,” Bellew added.

Joshua, who started 2024 with a victory over Francis Ngannou before losing to Dubois, still has one fight remaining on his lucrative Riyadh Season contract.

Meanwhile, IBF heavyweight champion Dubois has confirmed his interest in a rematch with Joshua, despite being scheduled to defend his title against Joseph Parker in February.

“As a fighter, I would love to get in the ring and put the final touches on our rivalry,” Dubois told the Mirror recently.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has indicated that the British-Nigerian won’t return to action until at least May 2024, with multiple options available, including a potential clash with the winner of the WBC interim title fight between Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel.

However, Bellew suggests Joshua’s immediate focus should be on the Dubois rematch rather than the upcoming Fury-Usyk clash.

“I think the last thing on Anthony Joshua’s mind right now is one of those two. I think his goal and his focus will be on Daniel Dubois,” Bellew said.

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I’ve sparred Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury but scary prospect was toughest at just

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Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

I’ve sparred Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury but scary prospect was toughest at just 15-years-old in ‘school uniform’

Lawrence Okolie has sparred Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, but was given his toughest examination by another frightening prospect.

Okolie is a two-weight world champion who has shared the ring with some of the best fighters in the sport, including some of the heaviest-handed heavyweights.

‘The Sauce’ has touched gloves with the likes of long-term friend Joshua regularly as well as former two-time champion Fury, who he sparred in 2023 while competing at cruiserweight.

After moving up to the blue-riband division himself with a big first round KO win, some of these names could become his future opponents.

But despite sparring some formidable profiles, the new British heavyweight was most threatened by prospect Moses Itauma in a tough sparring session.

He recalled the rounds during an interview on talkSPORT’s White & Jordan, revealing they were his toughest despite Itauma being just 15-years-old.

He said: “Funnily enough, I don’t know if it was because I was making cruiserweight or not.

“But the young up and comer, Moses Itauma that I remember sparring when he was 15 when I was preparing for a world title shot.

“I don’t know what it was about him, he was so fast and explosive and also very skillful.

“To be fair that’s the toughest spar I had. I was 27 and geared up for a world title shot and in my best shape.

“This boy came in his school uniform, taking off his tie and blazer and coming in to give some great work.

“That’s why I’m rooting for him, as I want someone with that much talent actually go and accomplish great things.”

Itauma has earned rave reviews from a number of big names, having even faced lofty comparisons to heavyweight legend Mike Tyson.

The 19-year-old has had 10 fights already in his professional career, and is yet to be beaten winning eight of them by KO.

Fury has already tipped Itauma as a future star of the division, given he has already risen to a superb standard.

The ‘Gypsy King’ even himself admitted that he would avoid a showdown with Itauma, who clearly carries formidable punching power.

Itauma will even help Fury spar for his upcoming rematch with Oleksandr Usyk on December 21, a sign that he is considered a real force moving forward.

The Briton will face experienced Australian Demsey McKean on the undercard of the sequel, as he looks to continue to expand his profile.

Anthony Joshua 

And his trainer Ben Davison, who is also the cornerman for Joshua, believes he is the best prospect in the heavyweight scene currently.

“He’s a very smart, intelligent fighter. He’s a thinking fighter,” he said.

“At his age a lot of it is instinct. Our job is to make it very conscious so when he comes across another fighter with a high IQ, he’s able to process, he’s able to have answers for whatever questions they’re asking back of him.

“He’s able to recognise traps that better opponents are trying to set on him. I feel like his progress is quick.

“I know sometimes he plays it down but he really loves the sport. He’s got a lot of passion for it and he’s really exciting.”

Okolie and Itauma could be pit against each other in the future, given he too plans to join Itauma at the pinnacle of the division.

The former Olympian is already ranked fifth in the WBC rankings, and is hoping to make a quick push towards world glory.

It could easily see the pair pit in a future all-British clash, which would certainly light up the squared circle.

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Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder reignited for 2025 in USA vs UK showdown

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Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder

A match-up between two fighters of Nigerian origins Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder is set for 2025.

In a thrilling matchup between the United Kingdom and the United States, Anthony Joshua is predicted to face Deontay Wilder.

This year, the two former world champions were scheduled to finally meet, but Wilder lost unexpectedly to Joseph Parker.

Zhilei Zhang then knocked him out, and in September, Daniel Dubois stopped AJ after five rounds.

Richard Torrez, an 11-0 American professional and US Olympian, is still interested in seeing the two square off, though.

Turki Alalshikh, the powerful Saudi boxing head, recently announced plans to hold a 6v6 series of contests between the United Kingdom and the United States.

In June, Eddie Hearn’s stable of Matchroom fighters lost against Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions.

However, Hearn and Warren might team up this time to fight Golden Boy of America and Top Rank.

Joshua was expected to take a rematch against Dubois but is now out for an extended period.

Wilder on the other hand has set his sights on fighting Ngannou.

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Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder tipped to fight in sensational UK vs USA event

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Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been tipped to fight Deontay Wilder in a sensational UK vs USA event.

The pair of former world champions were lined up to finally face each other this year but Wilder suffered a shock defeat to Joseph Parker.

He was then knocked out by Zhilei Zhang before AJ was stopped in five rounds by Daniel Dubois in September.

But US Olympian and 11-0 American professional Richard Torrez still wants to see the two fight.

Torrez, 25, told Sky Sports: “I still want to see Wilder versus AJ, I still want to see some of those big guys go at it.

“We still want to see all of those fights happen. They will still be entertaining fights.

“You put a big heavyweight versus another big heavyweight – that’s going to be fireworks.”

Powerful Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh recently revealed plans to stage a 6v6 series of UK vs USA fights.

Frank Warren’s stable of five triumphed against Eddie Hearn’s in June.

But Hearn and Warren could this time join forces to take on Top Rank and Golden Boy of America.

And Torrez said: “It’s going to be UK versus US pretty soon. I think a lot of these guys are showing their stuff.

“I think they’re putting on the scene over on the European side and I feel like once some of us jump the Pond to head over I think it’s going to be a really cool and active scene for the up and comers.

“It’s building up and I’m really excited to see where we go with heavyweight boxing.”

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