Oleksandr Usyk’s manager responds to Tyson Fury’s demand for trilogy fight after claiming Anthony Joshua bout is off

OLEKSANDR USYK is not set to battle it out with Tyson Fury if the Gypsy King’s fight with Anthony Joshua is canned. The British boxing icons have penned contracts for a bout this year – but a dispute over the location of the clash has complicated matters. Tyson Fury wants to fight Oleksandr Usyk if his bout with Anthony Joshua fails to go ahead Credit: PA But the Ukrainian is not planning to battle it out with the Gypsy King Credit: Reuters And Fury sensationally called for a trilogy showdown with Usyk, 39, after heading onto social media to claim his meeting with Joshua is off. But the Ukrainian’s manager has revealed a third fight between the pair will not go ahead. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Sergey Lapin said: “Usyk is not Tyson’s back-up plan. If Fury needs an opponent, he should visit the Ready to Fight platform. They can help him find a worthy opponent there. “Oleksandr is always open to big challenges. But serious intentions are backed by a concrete offer, not statements in the press.” Usyk was crowned the undisputed heavyweight champion when he beat Fury twice on points in 2024. But they have not locked horns since those money-spinning tussles in Saudi Arabia. And Fury, 38, called out Usyk in an X-rated video uploaded onto social media on Sunday. He said: “So it looks like AJ has s*** his pants yet again. After 11 years, he’s finally s*** his pants yet again. So this would only lead me to a fight with Oleksandr Usyk. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Usyk beat Fury on points twice in 2024 Credit: AFP “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. “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.” But Eddie Hearn has rubbished Fury’s suggestions that Joshua, 36, has pulled out of the eagerly-anticipated duel. The promoter added: “We have a signed legally binding contract to fight Tyson Fury and that’s exactly what we will be doing.” Joshua is scheduled to enter the ring later this year Credit: AP Eddie Hearn says the tussle with Fury is still set to go ahead Credit: Getty Joshua’s deal – penned in April – stated the bout MUST take place in the UK. But broadcaster Netflix and Saudi boxing financier Turki Alalshikh want to take the fight to the USA to capitalise on greater American viewing figures. Comment now