Tyson Fury Calls Out Oleksandr Usyk as Anthony Joshua Fight Stalls

What happened

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Tyson Fury says he is looking for a new opponent for November and has challenged Oleksandr Usyk to a third fight while plans for his long-awaited bout with Anthony Joshua remain unsettled. BBC Sport reported on 7 September that Fury and Joshua have each signed separate contracts with Saudi Arabian promoter Sela, but the venue has become a major obstacle to confirming the all-British heavyweight contest.

The report says organisers have been pushing to stage Fury-Joshua in the United States, while Joshua's contractual terms require the fight to take place in the United Kingdom. In a video posted on Instagram, Fury accused Joshua of backing away and asked Usyk whether he wanted to fight him again in 2026. Fury said he was now seeking another opponent, adding fresh uncertainty to a matchup that has been discussed for years.

Why it matters

A Fury-Usyk trilogy would revisit the defining rivalry of the heavyweight division's recent era. Usyk has beaten Fury twice and became a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. BBC Sport also notes that Usyk is now working with Joshua as part of his training and coaching team, a link that gives Fury's public challenge an extra layer of intrigue.

The comments do not amount to confirmation that Fury-Joshua has been cancelled or that Usyk has agreed to another bout. They do, however, increase pressure on the parties attempting to settle the location and commercial details. The central issue is no longer simply whether both British stars want the fight; it is whether signed arrangements can be reconciled with the preferred venue and broadcast plan.

Venue dispute

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has publicly urged promoters to bring the contest to Wembley Stadium. According to the BBC, talks over a UK staging have reopened, and Sela has contacted the mayor's office in recent weeks. Those discussions had not progressed further since the previous week at the time of the report.

Sela and broadcaster Netflix are understood to favour Madison Square Garden in New York. Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn has been renegotiating details because Joshua's contract specifies a UK venue. A Wembley event could also need an early-hours start to reach a larger United States television audience, an arrangement Khan said London would support.

Tournament impact

The next announcement will shape the top of the heavyweight schedule for late 2026. If the Fury-Joshua plan survives, the venue and timing still need resolution. If it falls through, Fury's search for a replacement could reopen negotiations with Usyk or create an opportunity for another leading heavyweight.

For Joshua, the dispute raises the importance of the protections in his individual deal and the practical question of whether a Wembley date can meet the organisers' global commercial goals. For Fury, publicly naming Usyk keeps a high-profile alternative in view, although two previous defeats make a third meeting both a sporting risk and a chance to change the rivalry's final narrative.

What to watch

The immediate signals will be an official venue announcement, a response from Joshua's team, or any indication from Usyk that he is open to the trilogy. Until one of those arrives, Fury's statement should be treated as a public challenge rather than a booked fight.

Source note

Contract details, venue discussions, promoter positions and Fury's comments were reported by BBC Sport on 7 September 2026: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/articles/c624gxplj72o