The heavyweight division is tangled in confusion once again. Sergey Lapin, manager to unbeaten champion Oleksandr Usyk, has firmly dismissed Tyson Fury’s public plea for a third meeting between the two, stating his fighter will not serve as anyone’s emergency substitute.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Lapin made his stance clear: “Usyk is not Tyson’s backup 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.”
Fury’s outreach came after his highly anticipated clash with Anthony Joshua hit turbulence. Both men have inked separate agreements for a November showdown, yet the bout remains unconfirmed because of a location dispute. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn insists contractual terms mandate a UK staging, while event organizers alongside Netflix continue pushing for Madison Square Garden in New York.
With that standoff unresolved, Fury signaled he might pivot toward a fresh rival, floating another meeting with Usyk and even questioning whether the Ukrainian intends to keep fighting.
Usyk, holding a spotless 25 win record, relinquished his WBA, WBC and IBF belts back in June, hinting at one final bout before stepping away from the sport. Interestingly, he remains connected to Joshua’s corner through shared training staff, adding another layer to this tangled rivalry.
For now, nothing is settled. The Fury versus Joshua fight sits in limbo over its venue, and any renewed Usyk matchup depends on whether Fury’s camp puts forward something more substantial than a headline grabbing challenge.
