Oleksandr Usyk’s camp have dismissed Tyson Fury’s demands for a trilogy fight with the Ukrainian after ‘The Gypsy King’ claimed his showdown with Anthony Joshua is now off.

Four months on from being confirmed, there is still no official date or venue for Joshua vs Fury with the most protracted saga in British boxing again threatening to fall by the wayside.

A dispute over where the fight will take place has taken centre stage with New York’s Madison Square Garden said to be the favoured destination of fight organisers and broadcasters Netflix.

Joshua and Fury have signed individual contracts with the former’s promoter’s Eddie Hearn adamant their deal stipulates the fight must take place in the UK with Wembley Stadium their preferred setting.

Fury has repeatedly taken aim at Joshua on social media in recent weeks, declaring this week he is now looking for a ‘new opponent’ with Usyk top of his list.

Usyk was crowned heavyweight boxing’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis when he beat Fury on points in May 2024, defending the belts against ‘The Gypsy King’ six months later in their rematch.

Despite calls for a trilogy, Usyk’s manager Sergey Lapin insisted the Ukrainian is no one’s back-up plan.

‘Usyk is not Tyson’s backup plan,’ Lapin told Sky Sports.

‘Oleksandr is always open to big challenges. But serious intentions are backed by a concrete offer, not statements in the press.’

Usyk last fought in June in his controversial victory over kickboxer Rico Verhoeven. The 39-year-old announced shortly after he intends to vacate his remaining world titles but is not looking to retire just yet.

Fury meanwhile has persistently accused Joshua of trying to avoid their bout that has been a decade in the making, labelling his rival ‘weak minded.’

‘This will only lead me to a fight with Oleksandr Usyk,” Fury said in a video posted on Instagram.

‘Oleksandr you’re his [Joshua’s] trainer and his sensei and you know he is weak minded… and that he would never fight the Gypsy King which you have had the guts to do twice.

‘You got the decisions last time, fair play to you. Good luck to you, let’s do it again. Let’s run it back in November. The ball is now in your court… do you want to fight me this year, 2026, or are you calling it quits?

‘Let me know because I am now looking for a new opponent.’

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