Fury declares Joshua fight off, challenges Usyk

Tyson Fury has declared that his highly anticipated heavyweight boxing match against rival Anthony Joshua is off, and has instead issued a challenge to Oleksandr Usyk for a third fight. Fury, who has been linked with Joshua for a bout scheduled for November 20, 2026, expressed impatience with the stalled negotiations. In a social media post, Fury stated that Joshua had "sht his pants yet again" after 11 years of discussions, suggesting the fight would not materialize. He then directly addressed Usyk, calling him Joshua's "trainer and his sensei" and urging the Ukrainian to accept a trilogy bout. Fury proposed meeting Usyk in November 2026, asking if he wished to fight this year or was retiring. Negotiations for a Fury-Joshua showdown have been complex, with disagreements over venue and contract terms. Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, insisted Joshua's contract stipulated a fight in the United Kingdom, while Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, indicated more flexibility.