Oleksandr Usyk will not serve as Tyson Fury's "back-up plan", according to Usyk's trainer, Sergey Lapin. This comes after Fury publicly challenged Usyk amid ongoing contract disputes that have stalled a potential fight with Anthony Joshua.
Joshua and Fury had signed to fight each other for the second time this year, but a new contract disagreement emerged over the summer. Joshua, 36, is reportedly contracted to box only in the UK, while 38-year-old Fury's contract offers more flexibility on location. This has led to Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, insisting on a UK venue, while Fury has pushed for a clash at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Fury has maintained his intention to fight on 20 November, regardless of his opponent. He had previously called out Daniel Dubois, Agit Kabayel, and Filip Hrgovic last week, before adding Usyk's name this week. However, Lapin told Sky Sports that "Usyk is not Tyson’s back-up plan," adding that "serious intentions are backed by a concrete offer, not statements in the press."
Fury and Usyk previously fought twice in 2024, with Usyk winning both times on points, marking Fury's only professional losses. Usyk, 39, recently vacated unified heavyweight titles after a controversial win in May and has stated he plans to compete one more time before retiring.