Tyson Fury has abandoned his pursuit of Anthony Joshua and called for a third fight with Oleksandr Usyk after talks for the all-British heavyweight showdown broke down once again.
In an expletive-laden Instagram video posted Sunday, Fury blamed Joshua for the collapsed negotiations and immediately pivoted to challenging the Ukrainian who has beaten him twice.
"So, it looks like AJ has [expletive] his pants yet again. After 11 years, he's finally [expletive] his pants yet again. So, this would only lead me to a fight with Oleksandr Usyk," Fury said in the video.
The proposed Joshua-Fury fight had been targeted for November, with both fighters signing individual contracts with Saudi Arabian promoter Sela. But disputes over the venue — with organizers pushing for a US location while Joshua preferred Wembley Stadium — caused delays in finalizing the bout.
Fury directed his challenge straight at Usyk, who recently vacated his heavyweight titles but has stopped short of confirming retirement. "Oleksandr, you, his trainer, and his sensei, and you know he's a weak-minded piece of [expletive], and he would never fight 'The Gypsy King,' which you've had the guts to do twice, and you know how difficult it is in there," Fury continued.
"Listen, you got the decisions last time. Fair play to you. Good luck to you, but let's do it again. Let's run it back in November. The ball is now in your court, Oleksandr. Do you want to fight me this year in 2026, or are you calling it quits? Let me know because I'm now looking for a new opponent."
Usyk holds a clean 2-0 record over Fury, with both fights ending in relatively uncontroversial decisions. The Ukrainian ended a 24-year wait for an undisputed heavyweight champion when he beat Fury on points in May 2024, before securing another decision victory in their rematch seven months later.
The breakdown represents another chapter in the decade-long saga between Fury and Joshua. The all-British heavyweight clash has repeatedly fallen apart despite multiple attempts to make it happen, including near-misses in 2021 and 2022.
Hopes had surged this year as reports indicated both sides had finally agreed to terms. But fierce backlash erupted after Dana White, through his Zuffa Boxing and TKO Group partnership with Saudi power brokers, became involved in the promotional arrangements, creating tension with Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn at Matchroom.
Both Fury and Joshua returned to action in July in fights expected to set up their British blockbuster. While Fury came through his bout successfully, Joshua endured a scare after being dropped twice by Kristian Prenga.
Usyk has also been active since his second victory over Fury, though he indicated in June that he was looking for one final fight before retirement. The unbeaten Ukrainian, who boasts a perfect 25-0 record, is currently working with Joshua as part of his training and coaching team — adding another layer of complexity to Fury's callout.
When contacted by BBC Sport, Saudi Arabian promoter Sela, Queensberry, and Matchroom all declined to comment on whether talks had definitively broken down between Fury and Joshua.
For Fury, the pivot to Usyk represents a chance to settle unfinished business with the only man to defeat him in recent years. Whether Usyk will accept the challenge for what could be his final fight remains to be seen.
