Neither Tyson Fury nor Oleksandr Usyk wanted to be drawn on their next move in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s world championship fight.
Usyk defended his unified WBO, WBA and WBC heavyweight titles when he handed Fury a unanimous points defeat, to repeat the victory he’d secured earlier this year in May.
It was a bitter result for Fury to swallow. The Briton was adamant he deserved the decision but after two consecutive losses to the same opponent, Fury will most likely have to go in another direction. The touted trilogy with Usyk has lost some of its lustre, even though both of their fights were close, enthralling contests fought at the highest level.
Fury wouldn’t speculate as to whether he’d even box again. “I might do, I might not,” he said at his post-fight press conference. “I’m going home and having time off.”
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Tyson Fury gives his honest thoughts after his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
But there are appealing options for him other than Usyk. Not least because he has a ready-made rival in Britain’s Anthony Joshua.
Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who co-promotes Fury, told Sky Sports, that fight could happen and should be in the UK.
“That fight has to be in the UK at Wembley Stadium, that’s where it belongs. Otherwise if you keep taking these big fights outside of the local area, you hurt the sport and the excitement that the sport brings,” Arum said.
“Wembley’s a no-brainer.”
Could Tyson Fury face Anthony Joshua next in the long-touted all-British bout?
Brad Jacobs, Top Rank COO, told Sky Sports: “It’s a fight the UK fans want regardless of what the guys have recently done in the ring or not. Depending on what other fights are in the offing that could be soon or maybe down the line or maybe doesn’t happen. We’ll have to see.”
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, agrees the Fury fight could fill Wembley Stadium. “It would be an instant sell out,” he told Sky Sports.
“It’s definitely the only fight for Tyson Fury and other than the Dubois rematch, it’s obviously the only fight for AJ. After a fight like that, and knowing how disappointing Fury will be, I don’t think it’s the time to start calling it on.
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Johnny Nelson reflects on Tyson Fury’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk and believes his next move won’t be a fight with Anthony Joshua
“Has there ever been a better time? They’re both coming off defeats, both on the back end of their careers. One in Wembley, one in Riyadh, two fights in 2025.”
“I think we say this after every big fight, but Fury deserves a break. I know that he’s a family man so to go and spend Christmas with his family but in terms of boxing, I think it’s the one we’ve been wanting for a long time. The Anthony Joshua fight makes sense more now than ever,” said Frazer Clarke on Sky Sports News.
“I don’t think [he will walk away]. When fighting is in you, it’s in you. I think he will carry on and last night showed that he was good enough to carry on. He wasn’t completely outboxed and was just second best to the better man.”
Ukraine’s Usyk may no longer be undisputed, he shed the IBF belt to pursue this rematch with Fury, but he is still undefeated and still the No 1 in the division.
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Daniel Dubois demands a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk following the Ukrainian’s win over Tyson Fury
Already a two-weight undisputed champion, Usyk could become a three-time one if he boxes and beats the winner of Daniel Dubois’ bout with Joseph Parker.
His legacy however is secure. He has already beaten Dubois in a 2023 world championship bout, stopping him inside the distance too.
Usyk could retire from the sport a legend if he so wished.
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Watch the best moments from Oleksandr Usyk’s press conference where he discusses his win over Tyson Fury, facing Daniel Dubois and wanting a break from boxing
“Usyk will sit back and enjoy Christmas. Daniel Dubois is a great option if he gets through Joseph Parker,” former world champion and Sky Sports boxing expert Johnny Nelson said.
“The world is Usyk’s oyster, so he’ll go where the biggest money is. He’s got to capitalise on the position he’s got.
“But who is there? IBF champion Daniel Dubois. But is Usyk going to wait that long because Daniel Dubois has to fight first. I don’t think he’ll step down to cruiserweight.”
Sky Sports commentator Andy Clarke suggested: “Ride off into the sunset. What a career, what an ambassador for the sport, he’s done everything he could have possibly done.
“335 wins and 15 defeats as an amateur, one of those came in his first fight. Undisputed champion at cruiserweight and heavyweight – what else is there to do? There’s nothing to do. Just get out now.
“He’s got his health intact,” he concluded. “Just go out at the very top.”
Repeats of Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury’s huge heavyweight rematch will be shown from 8am and 6pm on Sunday December 22 on Sky Sports Box Office. Book Usyk vs Fury 2 repeats now!
