Usyk’s camp rejects Fury’s call for third fight as Joshua bout remains unresolved
Sergey Lapin says Oleksandr Usyk will not be treated as a backup opponent while negotiations over Tyson Fury’s proposed November fight with Anthony Joshua remain unsettled.
Oleksandr Usyk’s manager has rejected Tyson Fury’s call for a third fight, saying the Ukrainian will not serve as a fallback option while uncertainty surrounds Fury’s proposed bout with Anthony Joshua.
Fury said on social media he was seeking a new opponent and wanted to face Usyk again. Responding to the comments in a statement to Sky Sports News, Sergey Lapin said serious interest would require a concrete offer rather than public statements.
The proposed Fury-Joshua fight remains unresolved over its venue. Sky Sports reported that both fighters have signed individual contracts for a November contest, but the location has not been agreed.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has favoured London, while Fury has indicated New York City as a possible destination. No cancellation of the proposed bout has been reported.
Usyk defeated Fury twice on points in 2024 and also recorded successive victories over Joshua in 2021 and 2022. A third Fury-Usyk fight has not been confirmed.
