Tyson Fury has downplayed the chances of a bout with Anthony Joshua, saying the former heavyweight world champion’s career is ‘in tatters’.
Fury returns to the ring in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night as the Gypsy King prepares to face off against Oleksandr Usyk aiming to avenge his only career defeat, with the Ukrainian winning their first bout on a split decision in Riyadh earlier this year. Usyk defends his WBA, WBO and WBC titles in the rematch after becoming boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 when he took victory back in May, but he relinquished the IBF title to allow Daniel Dubois to defend it against Anthony Joshua as he was contracted to another clash with the Fury – which is said to be worth an eye-watering $150m to the fighters.
The first clash went down to the judges’ scorecards, with Usyk defeating Fury by split decision, with judges scoring an enthralling encounter 115–112 for Usyk, 114–113 for Usyk and 114–113 for Fury. And Fury has now rubbished any suggestions that he underestimated Usyk in an interview with Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya, saying: “No I didn’t. He got a decision over me and won by one point, good luck to the guy. We’re going to run it back on Saturday and it’s going to be victory for me. It will all play out as it plays out on Saturday night.”
Fury was also asked about the prospect of a third fight with Usyk, and was quick to dismiss any chance of a bout with Joshua – having previously said his defeat against Dubois in September cost the pair the prospect of a £150m payday. He continued: “A trilogy with Usyk would take priority. Joshua’s in tatters at the moment, he’s got to pick up the pieces from his last fight. I think the trilogy is going to happen, when I win on Saturday night there’s got to be a trilogy for sure.”
The 36-year-old added that he won’t be following in Mike Tyson’s footsteps by still stepping into the ring at the age of 58, following the former world champion’s defeat to YouTube star Jake Paul in November. Fury said: “It’s not for me at 58.
“Mike is an awesome guy and to get back in the ring at 58 takes a lot of guts, and he needs to be respected for that. It was big for boxing, one of the biggest fights ever seen and I thought it was fantastic.
“Obviously Mike didn’t get the result, but it was good for him, good for his pocket and good for Jake’s pocket too.”