Tyson Fury Claims Anthony Joshua Bout Off and Issues Public Callout for Rematch With Oleksandr Usyk
Tyson Fury announced Sunday night that his highly anticipated heavyweight clash with Anthony Joshua is off, accusing his fellow British rival of backing out of their planned November 20 fight. The 38-year-old former champion turned his attention directly to Oleksandr Usyk, publicly challenging the Ukrainian fighter to a third bout later this year. Despite both boxers having signed individual agreements for a major showdown, negotiations have encountered serious obstacles regarding the target venue, prompting Fury to seek a new opponent for his next appearance in the ring.
The fallout comes amid active efforts to finalize the bout, which faced geographical disputes over location requirements set in contract terms. Event organizers and broadcasting partners expressed a preference for staging the match at Madison Square Garden in New York City, whereas contractual stipulations specified that the contest take place within the United Kingdom. Following recent victories by both fighters in July, Fury declared that he is moving on from the proposed matchup and shifted his focus toward securing an immediate November rematch against Usyk instead.
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Tyson Fury Claims Anthony Joshua Withdrawing From Highly Anticipated November Clash
Tyson Fury took to social media on Sunday night to inform fans that his long-awaited heavyweight fight against Anthony Joshua will not proceed as planned. The 38-year-old fighter publicly accused his fellow British rival of pulling out of the proposed November 20 event.
Both heavyweights had previously signed individual promotional contracts for the marquee matchup. However, negotiations hit a standstill over venue logistics, leading Fury to announce that he is officially actively seeking a new opponent for his upcoming bout.
Contractual Disagreements Over Proposed New York Venue Impede Match Finalization
The clash encountered significant operational hurdles as organizers pushed to host the event at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Major broadcasting and promotional partners voiced a strong preference for bringing the fight to the United States.
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However, contractual terms stipulated that the heavyweight bout must take place within the United Kingdom. These conflicting location demands prevented event organizers from finalizing the bout details despite both fighters securing individual contracts.
British Heavyweight Issues Direct Rematch Challenge to Oleksandr Usyk
Following his claims regarding Joshua's withdrawal, Fury directed a bold challenge toward former opponent Oleksandr Usyk. In a detailed video message, Fury called on the undefeated champion to agree to a third bout scheduled for November 2026.
Fury acknowledged Usyk's previous decision victories over him while pressing the Ukrainian to state whether he intends to fight again this year. Pointing out Usyk's willingness to face him twice before, Fury declared that the choice now rests entirely with Usyk.
Undefeated Ukrainian Champion Holds Two Previous Victories Over British Rival
Oleksandr Usyk enters the potential matchup discussion holding a perfect professional record of 25 wins with 16 knockouts. The Ukrainian star has already secured two victories over Fury, with both contests taking place across 2024.
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Fury referenced those previous bouts in his message, praising Usyk's willingness to step into the ring with him in the past. He urged the champion to give a quick response so that fight arrangements can be confirmed.
Recent Summer Stoppages Set Stage for Heavyweight Division Reshuffle
Both British heavyweights entered negotiations fresh off victories recorded during July fight cards. Joshua recovered from two early knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga, maintaining his momentum following a series of high-profile appearances.
On the preceding day, Fury secured a stoppage victory against Mariusz Wach in seven rounds to build his record to 36 wins, two losses, and one draw. Those summer performances initially set the foundation for the November matchup before recent venue disputes disrupted plans.
