Tyson Fury hints at boxing comeback for Oleksandr Usyk trilogy
The Briton retired from boxing a month after losing his second title fight to Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk late last year, but the 36-year-old posted 'April 18 2026 Wembley Stadium. The trilogy!', on social media on Thursday.
In two high-profile bouts in Saudi Arabia in 2024, Usyk came out on top – first by a split decision in May and then by a unanimous decision in December. The Ukrainian became the heavyweight division's first undisputed four-belt champion after the first fight, and retained the honour in the title rematch.
After announcing his retirement a few weeks after that loss, Fury has had a change of heart.
'I don't believe I've got a fair shout the last two times. That's all I want. I want a fair shout, and I don't believe I've got a fair shout the last two times,' Fury told reporters at an International Boxing Association (IBA) event in Istanbul on Wednesday, saying he would like the third bout with Usyk to be on home soil.
Whether the fight actually happens may depend on the result of Usyk's meeting with Briton Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium later this month. The Ukrainian will become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion should he prevail on July 19.
Fury made it clear that a trilogy with Usyk, whom he has often referred to as a 'rabbit' in build-up to fights, was his first preference, but is considering other options as well.
'That's the one I want, but if I don't get that then it'd be [Anthony] Joshua, the biggest British fight that will ever happen. It would break all records, and it would sell out 100,000 at Wembley in an hour. And it's a fight I think can happen, for sure, if I decide to come back,' he said.
The two Britons have never faced each other in the ring.
On Wednesday, Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh had also claimed Fury would come out of retirement next year.
'The 'Gypsy King' will be back,' Alalshikh said in a post on X.
'I talked with him, and I have his word to have him in Riyadh Season in 2026. We have a rabbit to hunt.'
Fury's co-promoters Queensberry told BBC Sport it is in discussions with Team Fury and Riyadh Season, the annual cultural and sporting event in the Saudi Arabian capital.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Scrappy Lions put through paces by under-strength NSW Waratahs
Scotland centre Huw Jones crossed twice as a scrappy British and Irish Lions were forced to battle hard in grinding past a second-string NSW Waratahs 21-10 on Saturday, offering the Wallabies a glimmer of hope. Scrappy Lions put through paces by under-strength NSW Waratahs The tourists outscored the home side three tries to two at a packed Sydney Football Stadium, banking a third straight win of their Australia tour. But it was less than convincing against a team missing a slew of players on Australia duty that had lost five of their last six Super Rugby games. After scoring 16 tries and 106 points in their opening two games, the Lions lacked invention and physical presence, missing rested playmaker Finn Russell and skipper Maro Itoje. They took a 14-5 advantage into the break, but it was a mediocre first 40 minutes, with too many mistakes and poor decision-making. The second half was marginally better as substitutes came on, but nowhere near as slick as their first two games to give Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt plenty to ponder ahead of the opening Test on July 19. The Lions had a setback before kickoff when exciting young blindside flanker Harry Pollock was ruled out with what coach Andy Farrell described as "a slight problem with the calf". It saw skipper Tadhg Beirne move from lock to six and Scott Cummings promoted off the bench to the second row. The Lions leaked an early try against both Western Force and the Queensland Reds, and were nearly caught on the hop again. Hugo Keenan dropped the ball on three minutes and the Waratahs raced away, with Mack Hansen making a try-saving tackle to save the Lions blushes. They quickly settled and, with Owen Farrell watching on after controversially jetting in as cover for injured utility back Elliot Daly, opened their account on 12 minutes. Set free by Sione Tuipulotu from a lineout, Jones the only repeat starter from their last game against the Reds sliced through the defence with Fin Smith adding the extras. But despite the Lions dominating territory and possession, the Waratahs' defence proved resolute and the home side worked their way into the game. Waratahs flanker Charlie Gamble broke free from a maul and dotted down near the half-hour mark to jubilation from the 40,568 fans. But the try was denied for obstruction. The Lions responded immediately with Jones again the main man, using nifty footwork to score his second try, and third of the tour, after picking up a flat pass from scrum-half Alex Mitchell. But the 'Tahs kept coming and finally got their reward when winger Darby Lancaster streaked free down the left to keep them in the hunt at half-time. They struck again soon after the restart, with Ethan Dobbins barging over to make it 14-10. With a raft of substitutes on, the Lions perked up and claimed their third try through Mitchell, who dummied and darted over after grabbing the ball from the back of the maul. But that was as good as it got. mp/dh This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
British and Irish Lions grind out a 21-10 win over Waratahs for a third win in 8 days
SYDNEY — The British and Irish Lions had their toughest win of the Australian tour so far, holding off the New South Wales Waratahs 21-10 on Saturday in their third game in eight days. British and Irish Lions grind out a 21-10 win over Waratahs for a third win in 8 days Big back-to-back wins over Western Force on Australia's west coast and Queensland Reds on the east coast followed a similar patterns where the Lions surged in the second half after arm-wrestles early with the local Super Rugby teams. It was a different rhythm in Sydney, with a third different captain for the Lions and another re-arranged lineup with a view on the three-test tour. Center Huw Jones scored close-range tries in the 12th and 35th minutes to give the Lions a 14-0 lead, although the Waratahs had a try overturned by the Television Match Official for a lineout obstruction in between. The Waratahs scored from the second kick restart, sending the ball to the short side where winger Darby Lancaster beat some forward defenders, was knocked off balance by Hugo Keenan's attempted covering tackle before scrambling the last five meters to score in the left corner. That made it 14-5 at halftime. The Lions hadn't conceded a point in the second half of their opening two wins but that run ended less than two minutes after the break, when Waratahs hooker Ethan Dobbins crashed over after a driving maul from a lineout, with two backs joining the maul. Jack Bowen's conversion attempt hit the near upright, leaving the score at 14-10. The Lions were denied an almost immediate try in response by some desperate cover defense before scrumhalf Alex Mitchell scored in the 55th, darting to the shortside from a ruck after sustained pressure from a scrum penalty and a stream of Waratahs errors. Finn Smith converted to make it 21-10 and it appeared the Lions were starting to get on a roll again, particularly when Mitchell kicked a 50-22 to give the Lions another ideal attacking opportunity. He then threw the last pass for replacement prop Ellis Genge to drive over on the hour, but the ball was lost in the tackle and the Waratahs held firm. The Lions barged over again in the 76th but had a try disallowed for a lineout obstruction in the buildup, and weren't able to cross again in a scrappy, error-strewn encounter. The Lions are now 3-0 since a 28-24 loss to Argentina in a warmup in Dublin before the traveling to Australia for a nine-game tour, which includes three tests against the Wallabies on July 19, 26 and Aug. 2. The British and Irish squad will next play the Canberra-based Brumbies on Wednesday. __ rugby: /hub/rugby This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Rugby-Frustrated Farrell says Pollock okay despite late withdrawal
By Nick Mulvenney Rugby-Frustrated Farrell says Pollock okay despite late withdrawal SYDNEY, - British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell said Henry Pollock's withdrawal before kickoff was precautionary and reported a clean bill of health for the rest of his side after their win over the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday. Pollock, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise this year, was named at blindside flanker for his third Lions match but was a late withdrawal from the Sydney Football Stadium clash. "It was just a bit of an awareness on a calf strain that was tight enough this morning so, knowing what we knew, there was no need to risk him," Farrell told reporters after the unconvincing 21-10 victory. The Lions have lost players for the remainder of the tour in their first two matches in Australia, scrumhalf Tomos Williams suffering a hamstring injury and Elliot Daly breaking his arm. Farrell said his team had come through Saturday's match unscathed. "That's a good positive at this stage," he said. He was less impressed with the error-prone performance of his side and suggested the Waratahs might have watered the pitch before the match to make the conditions tougher. "I mean, that's good tactics from them, isn't it? That the ball's slippy, the breakdown's ferocious enough and the line speed is high octane stuff from them as well," he said. "We kept on trying to overplay at times, certainly around halfway, and putting ourselves back under pressure and keeping them in the game. "And that amount of turnover ball is credit to them, obviously, but not good enough from us." Farrell brought his son Owen into the squad as an injury replacement for but said Wednesday's match against the ACT Brumbies would probably be too early for him. The Brumbies beat the Lions on their last tour of Australia 12 years ago. "It looks like there could be a bit of rain so that's good for us, we need to play in that as well," Farrell said. "But we also know that they're top side in the Australian division, and we also know what happened as far as the Lions is concerned in 2013, so we know it's a big day on Wednesday for us all." This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
