Usyk's camp say he's not Fury's 'back-up plan'

Oleksandr Usyk's manager Sergey Lapin has dismissed Tyson Fury's suggestion of a third fight between the two heavyweights, stating that Usyk is 'not Tyson's back-up plan.' Fury, who lost to Usyk twice in May and December 2024, claimed he had shifted focus away from a planned November bout with Anthony Joshua, alleging Joshua was looking to avoid the fight despite both men having signed individual contracts. Usyk, 39, vacated his three heavyweight titles in June following a win over Rico Verhoeven in Cairo but has not indicated he plans to retire.