Tyson Fury has told Frank Warren that there “will be” a trilogy if he beats Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday evening.
The 36-year-old is set to go 12 rounds with the undefeated Ukrainian for the second time in 2024, after being handed the first professional loss of his career by Usyk in May. Undisputed greatness was on the line when Fury and Usyk duked it out at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, with the ‘Gypsy King’ risking his WBC heavyweight title while gunning for his opponents collection of WBA (Super), WBO, IBF and IBO belts.
However, the move ultimately backfired on Fury’s part, when he was handed a split-decision loss after 12 rounds, with Usyk becoming the division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis achieved the feat way back in November 1999. Usyk’s reign at the top didn’t last long, however, forfeiting his IBF title due to opting to give Fury an instant rematch rather than facing mandatory challenger, Daniel Dubois.
Should Fury be victorious in the rematch of the decade thus far come December 21, he has already told promotor Warren what is next for him, eyeing a coveted trilogy clash with Usyk. Speaking during a face to face segment for DAZN, Warren said of the previous bout: “A lot of journalists and what you read afterwards, they were saying whoever won the fight was going to be the best heavyweight of the 21st century, the fight unified champion and they’d go up there with all the greats of the past.
“I’m glad they’ve said that because, at the moment, Oleksandr got the result and won the split decision, but [if] Tyson wins it, that’s where that mantle will go. That he is the best of his generation.” However, Fury was quick to quash the viewpoint of his promotor, adding: “No Frank, there will be a rematch.
“A trilogy. There’s got to be. If he wins one and I win one, I can’t say I’m better and he can’t say he’s better. There has to be a third one.” Fury has been a stalwart at heavyweight since making his debut in December 2008 – running through a who’s who of the division, including Derek Chisora, Deontay Wilder, Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte and Francis Ngannou.
Sitting pretty at 34-1-1, Usyk proved to be the only man powerful enough to stop Fury in his tracks in May this year. With his own record blooming at 22-0, the undefeated Ukrainian has also beat a wealth of household names throughout his career, including Anthony Joshua (twice), Dubois, Chisora and Tony Bellew.
Will Fury be able to right his recent wrong and achieve championship status once more come Saturday evening? Only time will tell for the Englishman.