Tyson Fury confirms next fight after Oleksandr Usyk in blow to Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury intends to pursue a trilogy fight with Oleksandr Usyk next year over a long-awaited Battle of Britain against Anthony Joshua.

‘The Gypsy King’ suffered the first defeat of his professional career last May, beaten by Usyk who took his WBC heavyweight to be crowned the division’s first undisputed world champion since Lennox Lewis.

The two will be reunited in Saudi Arabia on 21 December in a rematch with three of the division’s four major world titles on the line – with the IBF title vacated by Usyk in the summer and now in the possession of Daniel Dubois.

Dubois defended that belt in thrilling fashion against Joshua in September. The two were expected to meet in a rematch in February but with Joshua believed to be still recovering from niggling injuries, Joseph Parker will now step up to challenge the Londoner in the New Year on a outrageously stacked card.

With Joshua expected to fight again in May or June, it has been suggested he could fight Fury next year regardless of whether he beats Usyk this month with Matchroom Sport president Barry Hearn this week suggesting both Britons could be tempted by a ‘farewell fight’ in 2025.

But having lost his first meeting against Usyk and convinced he will get his revenge this month, Fury is adamant a deciding third fight must happen.

Fury and Usyk were joined by promoters Frank Warren and Alexander Krassyuk for an interview with DAZN following last month’s press conference in London with the video shared this week.

Warren suggested victory in Saudi will confirm Fury’s status as the best fighter of his generation, with the former world champion insisting there will be only one way to prove that theory.

‘No Frank! There will be a rematch, a rubber match, trilogy,’ Fury said. ‘There’s got to be. If he wins one and I win one, I can’t say that I’m better and he can’t say that he’s better. There has to be a third one.’

Usyk and Fury will take centre stage to see the year out just before Christmas with another huge card confirmed this week.

Dubois will make the second defence of his IBF crown against Joseph Parker, another fighter in an incredible run of form with wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang under his belt.

The card in Saudi will be headlined by the light-heavyweight title rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, with the latter defending the undisputed title he won in October.

Hamzah Sheeraz, the undefeated Londoner determined to become the next star of British boxing, will challenge for his first world title against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames.

Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith meanwhile meet in one of the many long-awaited fights among the country’s best light-heavyweights with American sensation Shakur Stevenson putting his WBC lightweight title on the line against Floyd Schofield.

Chinese heavyweight Zhang vs Agit Kabayel for the interim WBC heavyweight title completes the spectacular card.

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