Here’s a bold claim that’ll stop you in your tracks: Tyson Fury is convinced Oleksandr Usyk will be begging for a third fight by the end of the year. Yes, you heard that right. Despite losing both of their heavyweight showdowns, Fury is doubling down on his belief that he’s still the undisputed king of the ring—belts or no belts. But here’s where it gets controversial: Fury insists, ‘Without belts, I’m still the man.’ Is he delusional, or does he have a point? Let’s dive in.
Fury and Usyk have clashed in two unforgettable heavyweight battles, with Usyk emerging victorious on points in both. The first fight, in 2024, marked the inaugural undisputed heavyweight championship of the four-belt era, making Usyk the first fighter to hand Fury a professional loss. The rematch in December 2024 was equally intense, with Usyk repeating his triumph. Yet, Fury remains unshaken, even going as far as to compare his losses to a daylight robbery—‘Dick Turpin wore a mask when he was robbing people. I got robbed in broad daylight with the world watching,’ he told Sky Sports. Strong words, but do they hold water?
And this is the part most people miss: Fury’s confidence isn’t just bluster. He’s convinced Usyk has no other lucrative opponent on the horizon, leaving him no choice but to seek a trilogy. ‘There’s no one for him to fight to make any money. There’s only the GK, the big man,’ Fury declared. But is he overestimating his market value, or is he truly the ‘biggest fish in the pond’ as he claims?
Fury’s comeback trail continues on April 11, when he faces Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Makhmudov, a formidable contender ranked No. 6 by the WBA, is no pushover. ‘Big, dangerous man,’ Fury admitted. ‘Someone I have to respect or else I’ll get knocked out.’ A win here would be a crucial step toward reclaiming a world title—a goal Fury is laser-focused on. His plan? ‘Make this fellow world champion, fight him for the title, and win. Easy,’ he said. But is it really that simple?
Meanwhile, the elephant in the room is Fury’s long-time rival, Anthony Joshua. Any talk of a showdown between the two former champions is on hold as Joshua grieves the tragic loss of two close friends in a car accident. Fury has shown rare empathy, urging respect for Joshua’s space: ‘Let’s give the man the respect he deserves… let’s not call him out and make him do things he doesn’t want to do.’ A classy move, but will it delay one of boxing’s most anticipated matchups indefinitely?
Controversial question for you: Is Fury’s unshakable self-belief a sign of greatness, or is he in denial about his losses to Usyk? And does Joshua’s tragedy mean their fight will never happen? Sound off in the comments—let’s spark a debate!
