Boxing
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk: Fight date, venue and all you need to know
Tyson Fury is now looking to face Oleksandr Usyk after witnessing him defeat Anthony Joshua
Tyson Fury has continued to let his team know that he is now seemingly interested in fighting Oleksandr Usyk in a heavyweight unification bout after the Ukrainian defeated Anthony Joshua on Saturday evening.
Usyk remains atop of the boxing pound-for-pound rankings after the victory over the Brit, and although Fury has numerously stated that he would retire, it seems he’ll now return to face the heavyweight champion.
Usyk was awarded Fury’s Ring Magazine title after the win this past weekend, which Fury was forced to vacate after speaking on retirement. But talks are already underway for the two to face one another, in what would be one of the more highly anticipated heavyweight bouts since in recent history.
Odds have already been released showing a clear favourite in the fight, with a date and venue already being earmarked – which could see the bout happening as early as this year.
Here is all you need to know on what has been said on the potential fight so far:
Date and venue
It has been revealed that talks are already underway to see the Gypsy King return to action after Usyk defeated Joshua on Saturday night, winning in convincing fashion to reclaim the WBA, IBF and WBO whilst also taking the vacant Ring Magazine title, given up by Fury.
It comes after Fury has once again reversed his decision to call time on his boxing career to challenge Usyk. The Daily Mail has reported that a fight date has been ‘pencilled in’ for December 17 in Saudi Arabia – the night before the World Cup final in Qatar.
Prince Mohammad Abdulaziz, the Saudi minister for sport, confirmed: “We are very interested in the fight for the undisputed heavyweight title. We are looking to do that in the city of Riyadh.”
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has confirmed it is extremely unlikely the fight will be held in the UK. “At the end of the day, it’s where the most money can be generated,” he said.
“There would [be huge demand to have it in the UK], but where would you put it on? We wouldn’t be able to put it on until next year.
“It’s no good going to the Millennium Stadium, it doesn’t hold the same amount of people as Wembley does and can’t generate the same money.
“If it were to go on in the UK it needs to be Wembley and it can’t go on until the end of April or May next year.
“We want to get it on before then. While everybody is hot to trot and there are no mandatories force on in the meantime.”
What has been said
Oleksandr Usyk
Speaking after his victory over Joshua, Usyk confirmed he’ll look to fight Fury, who could retire. He said: “The fight with Fury is the only one I want. If that doesn’t happen I may not fight again. But I do believe we are going to fight each other soon.”
Tyson Fury
They were s*** and I’d beat them both on the same night’ — then proclaiming: ‘The Gypsy King is here to stay for ever so get your f****** cheque book out.”
Warren
Warren told BBC Radio 5 live on Monday: “He and Usyk would be a really good fight. It’s a fight that I think will be made because both teams would like to see that happen. Usyk said after the fight that it’s the only fight he’s interested in and it’s certainly the same case with Tyson. It’s just a matter of where it will generate the most income because it’s a unique fight, a historic fight.
“It’s the first time for God knows how long that the four belts are on the line. Both fighters are undefeated. The whole world of boxing will be captivated by this fight.”
Bob Arum
Taking to social media, Fury’s American promoter said: “Top Rank and our co-promoter, Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, are hopeful we can make the biggest heavyweight championship fight since Ali fought Frazier…. Fury vs. Usyk.”
-MEN
Daniel Dubois came back from two knockdowns to deal Fabio Wardley a brutal and bloody first defeat as a professional and take the WBO heavyweight title in a thunderous all-British clash on Saturday.
Referee Howard Foster finally stepped in at the start of the 11th round to signal the end of the fight, with Wardley bleeding heavily from the bridge of the nose and with his right eye almost closed.
Dubois rose twice from the canvas, including being dropped by a right hook in the first 10 seconds of the fight, to pulverise Wardley and become a world heavyweight champion for the second time in his career.
“It was a war. We came through the sticky moments. Thank you, Fabio, for that,” said Dubois, who was previously IBF champion after the belt was vacated by Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, with the Ukrainian winning it back in July 2025.
“What a great fight. What a great battle, man”.
The win was Dubois’s 23rd as a professional in 26 fights, while Wardley now has a 20-1-1 record.
Veteran promoter Frank Warren, who manages both men, said it was the best heavyweight fight he had ever put on and confirmed there was a rematch clause in the contract.
For some viewers, however, it was also an uncomfortable watch that could have been stopped earlier.
The 31-year-old Wardley, who was promoted to WBO champion last November after Usyk vacated the title, was making his first defence and showed immense heart as he took a tremendous beating yet refused to capitulate.
He had his opponent on the floor, a blow Dubois, 28, later dismissed as a ‘flash knockdown’, almost with the opening bell still sounding.
Dubois was back on one knee in round three but came close to a stoppage in the sixth with the reigning champion bleeding heavily and on the ropes.
The Londoner continued to land blow after blow on Wardley, who wobbled but refused to give up.
His corner inspected the facial wounds after the eighth, and doctors and the referee took a look in rounds nine and 10, but still the fight continued, with Wardley increasingly struggling to stay on his feet and fighting on instinct.
“You witnessed something special tonight,” Warren told the BBC. “Two men baring their hearts and souls in the ring gave everything, didn’t leave one bit outside the ring.
“They were getting hit with bombs that would take people out, and they stood it.”
-Reuters
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World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has backed Anthony Joshua to defeat Tyson Fury in their long‑anticipated clash later this year and has been helping him with his game plan.
Usyk, who holds the IBF, WBA and WBC belts, has been working with former opponent Joshua in recent months and said he has been impressed by the Briton’s development.
He added that 36-year-old Joshua deserves to beat compatriot and fellow ex-champion Fury, 37, after changing his approach.
“Fury is an unbelievable fighter, and Fury is a very dangerous guy, but I look at how Anthony works and how he has changed,” Usyk told the BBC.
“I like Fury, he is my greedy belly’s best friend, he’s an amazing fighter, but I want Anthony to win – he deserves it.”
Joshua, a former two‑time world heavyweight champion, is scheduled to return to the ring against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on July 25. The bout will be his first since a car accident last December in which two close friends were killed.
Usyk said his recent work with Joshua has focused on technical and mental preparation.
“We speak about strategy, boxing skills and psychology. We speak about fights, our fights, and I say ‘champ, come on, don’t stop’,” he said.
The Ukrainian is set to defend his world titles against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Egypt.
-Reuters
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- Summary
- *Joshua to face Kristian Prenga in Riyadh after car accident hiatus
- *Fight marks start of Joshua’s multi-fight deal in Saudi Arabia, announced by Turki Alalshikh
- *Promoter Hearn says Joshua vs Fury is signed for later in the year
Former world heavyweight boxing champions Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have signed up for a long-awaited clash later this year, promoter Eddie Hearn said on Monday.
“Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ v Fury is on!,” Hearn posted on Instagram.
The announcement came after confirmation that Joshua will return to the ring against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on July 25 in the Briton’s first fight since he was in a car accident last December that killed two close friends.
U.S.-based Albanian Prenga, 35, is a former kickboxer with a ring record of 20 wins and one defeat since he turned professional in 2016.
The fight, billed as “The Comeback”, was announced by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh and will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN.
Turki also posted on X a message “to my friends in Great Britain – it’s happening. It’s signed” while his Ring Magazine said the fight would happen in Q4 2026 on Netflix.
SIXTH-ROUND KNOCKOUT
Joshua, 36, has a record of 28 wins and four losses with his most recent fight a sixth-round knockout of American Jake Paul on December 19 in Miami.
“It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring, and today is the next step on that journey,” said Joshua.
“I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 25th in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I’m looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off. The landlord will collect his rent. That is certain.”
Hearn told Sky Sports television he wanted a “tune-up bout” in July before facing Fury potentially in November.
“July and November are the two dates that have been presented to us now and we expect to move forward,” he said. “Fury has just had his tune-up fight with 12 really vital rounds to get him sharp for the next one and I expect us to do the same.”
Fury called for a showdown with Joshua after he outclassed Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11.
“Next, I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for. I want you AJ, Anthony Joshua, let’s give the fight fans what they want, the Battle of Britain,” he said then.
-Reuters
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