Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: Why British rivals could finally fight in 2025 after defeats to Oleksandr Usyk
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Speaking at his press conference after losing to Oleksandr Usyk for the second time, Tyson Fury had little interest in discussing whether he would return to the ring. “I’m going to go home and have a good Christmas,” he said. “I’ve been away from my kids for 12 weeks. You might see me again, you might not. Who knows? We’ll talk about that next year.”.
The 36-year-old locked himself away in Malta for his training camp, not even speaking to his wife or children for three months as he put his entire focus into avenging his defeat to Usyk earlier this year. Fury cut a more serious figure in fight week and indeed on the night, sticking to his game plan and, as he promised, there was no showboating.
Still it was not enough. Fury started the fight confidently and it was clear he wanted to be more aggressive, as had been signposted at the weigh-in when he came in four stone heavier than his opponent. Usyk, though, gradually got into his typically brilliant rhythm and landed the cleaner shots, for all each of the 12 rounds were competitive. Fury was convinced he had won it, many ringside pundits could not split them, but it was Usyk who had his hand raised, the three judges scoring it 116-112 in his favour.
A trilogy would have been inevitable had Fury been victorious, but there is little appetite for that now. The key question is whether Fury wants to fight on, and the likelihood is that he does. His performance in the rematch was not one of a man who has little left in the tank, with no sign that his punch resistance or speed has significantly diminished. He ultimately fell just short against one of the greatest fighters the sport has seen.
