Tyson Fury, the reigning WBC heavyweight champion, has expressed skepticism about Anthony Joshua’s ability to overcome Oleksandr Usyk in a potential rematch, casting doubts on the possibility of a future undisputed heavyweight title fight. Fury’s remarks come as speculation grows about a potential clash between the heavyweight titans, with fans eagerly anticipating a unification bout that could crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over two decades.
In a recent interview, Tyson Fury didn’t mince words when discussing Anthony Joshua’s prospects against Oleksandr Usyk, the current WBA (Super), WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion. “I’m not sure Joshua can beat Usyk,” Fury stated, pointing out Joshua’s previous loss to the Ukrainian in September 2021, where Usyk claimed the heavyweight titles in a masterclass performance. Fury’s concerns are rooted in Usyk’s superior boxing skills, movement, and ring intelligence, all of which gave Joshua significant trouble in their first encounter.
Fury’s doubts about Joshua’s ability to reclaim his titles from Usyk center on the stylistic challenges that the Ukrainian poses. Usyk, a former undisputed cruiserweight champion, has seamlessly transitioned to the heavyweight division, where his agility, footwork, and technical prowess have made him a formidable opponent for any heavyweight. According to Fury, these attributes make Usyk a particularly difficult matchup for Joshua, who relies more on his power and physicality.
The boxing world has been clamoring for an undisputed heavyweight title fight, and the prospect of a showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has long been seen as the pinnacle of the sport. However, Joshua’s loss to Usyk derailed those plans, and Fury believes that Joshua’s chances of setting up an undisputed fight by beating Usyk are slim. “To keep the undisputed fight alive, Joshua needs to beat Usyk, but I’m not convinced he can do it,” Fury said.
An undisputed title fight would be a historic event, marking the first time since Lennox Lewis in 2000 that a heavyweight held all the major belts simultaneously. For many fans and pundits, a Fury-Joshua clash represents the ultimate test in the heavyweight division, pitting two British boxing icons against each other in a battle for supremacy. However, Usyk’s emergence as a heavyweight force has complicated the path to this dream matchup.
Anthony Joshua is no stranger to adversity. After his shocking loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019, he bounced back to reclaim his titles in an immediate rematch. Now, with a potential rematch against Usyk looming, Joshua finds himself in a familiar position—facing a must-win fight to keep his dreams of unifying the division alive. However, Fury’s doubts reflect the broader concerns within the boxing community about whether Joshua can adjust his game plan enough to deal with Usyk’s elusive style.
Joshua has made changes to his training camp and approach since his loss to Usyk, bringing in new trainers and focusing on refining his boxing skills. But whether these adjustments will be enough to overcome Usyk remains to be seen. Fury’s comments suggest that even if Joshua is able to regain his titles, he may still face an uphill battle in convincing the boxing world that he can dethrone Fury, who remains undefeated and widely regarded as the best heavyweight in the world.
The heavyweight division is in a state of flux, with multiple potential matchups that could reshape the landscape of the sport. While Fury has his own challenges ahead—most notably a potential showdown with Usyk or a trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder—his focus on Joshua’s situation highlights the interconnectedness of the top fighters in the division. The outcome of Joshua vs. Usyk II will have major implications for the future of heavyweight boxing, determining not just the next champion, but also the trajectory of the sport’s biggest stars.
For now, Fury remains the dominant force in the division, and his doubts about Joshua’s ability to beat Usyk add another layer of intrigue to the ongoing heavyweight saga. Whether Joshua can prove him wrong and set up the undisputed fight the world has been waiting for is a question that will be answered in the ring.
