Oleksandr Usyk has responded to Tyson Fury’s claim that the heavyweight pair are due to fight each other for the third time next year.
Usyk beat Fury twice on points in 2024 to cement his place as the best heavyweight on the planet and is set for another undisputed clash when he faces Daniel Dubois at Wembley on Saturday night.
Fury announced his retirement at the start of the year following his second loss to Usyk, but claimed on Instagram earlier this month that he will be returning to the ring for a trilogy fight with Usyk next April.
Usyk is aware of Fury’s social media antics but is unsure whether he will go through with his retirement U-turn and insists he is fully focused on beating Dubois this weekend.
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Speaking to The Stomping Ground, Usyk said: “I don’t judge Tyson Fury. But I don’t know what’s going on.”
Pushed further on whether a fight with Fury was being arranged, Usyk replied: “I don’t know, now I don’t think about this.
“We have a fight in 2026? You crazy guy! After the fight (against Dubois), we speak about it.”
Usyk has previously stated that he is planning to have just two more fights before hanging up his gloves for good.
The first will be his rematch against Dubois, with the Ukrainian aiming for a repeat victory after beating the Brit via ninth-round stoppage in Poland two years ago.
But Usyk’s opponent for his potential swansong remains unclear. Fury believes he deserves a third shot at Usyk after their two hard-fought battles last year, while a trilogy bout with Anthony Joshua could also appeal to the undefeated heavyweight king.
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Usyk has also spoken in the past about a crossover bout with UFC star Alex Pereira, but that now appears unlikely after the Brazilian lost his last fight against Magomed Ankalaev in March.
Joseph Parker is in line for a chance to become a two-time world champion, while rising star Moses Itauma is also rapidly climbing the rankings, and one of the heavyweight duo could be chosen as Usyk’s final foe.
