The ‘Gypsy King’ will be looking to get back to winning ways in 2025 after suffering back-to-back defeats to heavyweight rival Oleksandr Usyk this year
The ‘Gypsy King’ will be looking to get back to winning ways in 2025 after suffering back-to-back defeats to heavyweight rival Oleksandr Usyk this year The ‘Gypsy King’ will be looking to get back to winning ways in 2025 after suffering back-to-back defeats to heavyweight rival Oleksandr Usyk this year
It’s back to the drawing board for Tyson Fury as the two-time heavyweight champion aims to get back to winning ways in 2025.
This year has been an unforgettable one for the ‘Gypsy King’ after suffering back-to-back defeats to heavyweight rival Oleksandr Usyk. In their first encounter back in May, the 36-year-old went toe-to-toe with the Ukrainian in an epic bout before suffering a spit decision loss in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Seven months later, the pair would go toe-to-toe once again. It’s fair to say Fury boxed superbly in the sequel with the Ukrainian, but unfortunately for the Brit, it wasn’t enough to hand Usyk the first loss of his professional career. With ‘The Cat’ remaining the king of the heavyweight division, it begs question… what’s next for Tyson Fury?
While Fury will no doubt be licking his wounds following his loss to Usyk, there are still plenty of options for the ‘Gypsy King’. Many have called for an all-British showdown between Fury and two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed he will look to stage a historic clash between Joshua and Fury. “I don’t think it’s time to start screaming, this night is Usyk vs Fury, but the reality is there’s only one fight for Tyson Fury and that’s Anthony Joshua,” Hearn told DAZN.
“It’s the biggest fight probably in the history of British boxing, everyone will always want to see it. And by the way, that wasn’t a Tyson Fury that looked finished, it wasn’t a flat performance, it wasn’t a poor performance, he didn’t look gun-shy, he didn’t look like his punch resistance was in question like we talked about earlier.
“I think Tyson Fury is still potentially at the peak of his powers, just not good enough to be Oleksandr Usyk tonight. But for me, AJ against Fury is the one, it’s the one at Wembley, I’m going to be pushing His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] to make the fight, but that’s maybe one for another day, tonight belongs to Oleksandr Usyk. But Fury will struggle with this, I think. All fighters do, AJ struggled with the Dubois defeat as well, you’re a winner and when you get beat it hurts and this will hurt Fury.”
Fury will no doubt be the favourite heading into a potential showdown with Joshua… but it won’t be easy. In a previous interview with Sky Sports, the Brit was quick to dismiss a fight with ‘AJ.’
“He doesn’t have any belts. He doesn’t have anything that I need and there will not be a fight between me and him ever. Full stop,” Fury said. “There’s too much messing. I’m not going over it again. They’re too hard to deal with.” He added: “There are no more fights that can outweigh Tyson Fury. There isn’t any. There isn’t more money to be had fighting Deontay Wilder or Usyk for a third time. The only money fight for him right now is to fight me, but that bird has flown.
“No Joshua, no more, no more wasting time. The way he is, he’s in a comfortable position and he’s worked hard for it. I’m not going to discredit his performances or discredit his achievements. What I can discredit is his lack of commitment to the British public. I’m going to say what I said to Eddie Hearn in Arlington, Texas. The difference between me and your man is that your man is a businessman and I’m a Spartan.”
But now it seems as if a clash between the pair is the most likely it’s been ever. That said, how much have the pair got left to give in the sport of boxing? Following the back-to-back defeats to Usyk, as well as three gruelling fights with Deontay Wilder, those clashes may have taken it’s toll on the ‘Gypsy King.’ In a bid to get back in the win column, both Fury and Joshua will likely go head-to-head before the midway point of the year. Fury will no doubt be aware of Joshua’s fight-ending power, but the Brit may end up walking into a right hand – dropping to the canvas and failing to beat the count. With a knockout defeat to ‘AJ’ – and his legacy being severely damaged, Fury may opt to hang up his gloves, capping off a torrid two years inside the squared-circle
Mirror – Sport
