The heavyweight boxing world has been given another reason to focus on the growing tension surrounding Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury, and Oleksandr Usyk is once again at the center of the conversation.
Having faced both British heavyweights inside the ring, Usyk possesses a perspective that few people in boxing can match. He knows their strengths, understands their weaknesses, and has experienced firsthand the different challenges each fighter presents.
His previous comments backing Joshua to defeat Fury have already attracted considerable attention. Now, as anticipation builds around the long-awaited British heavyweight showdown, the Ukrainian champion’s assessment carries even greater significance.
The central question is no longer simply whether Joshua can defeat Fury. It is whether the former two-time heavyweight champion has developed the qualities necessary to overcome one of the most unpredictable fighters of his generation.
And with Fury publicly discussing his ambitions beyond Joshua, including another potential meeting with Usyk, the stakes surrounding this rivalry continue to grow.
USYK HAS FACED BOTH HEAVYWEIGHTS — AND HIS EXPERIENCE MATTERS
When discussing Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, few opinions carry the same competitive perspective as that of Oleksandr Usyk.
The Ukrainian has shared the ring with both men on multiple occasions, recording two victories over Joshua and two victories over Fury.
Those results established Usyk as one of the defining heavyweight fighters of his era. More importantly, they gave him an opportunity to examine two completely different boxing styles under the pressure of championship competition.
Joshua presents a combination of physical strength, explosive punching power, athleticism, and disciplined technical boxing. Fury, meanwhile, has built much of his success around his unusual movement for a heavyweight, considerable reach, ring intelligence, and ability to disrupt an opponent’s rhythm.
Usyk has had to solve both problems.
Against Joshua, he demonstrated exceptional footwork, timing, and the ability to control distance against a physically imposing opponent. Against Fury, he faced a considerably different challenge, requiring adjustments to deal with the British fighter’s size, movement, and tactical unpredictability.
That experience explains why his opinion about a potential Joshua-Fury contest deserves attention.
In May 2026, Usyk publicly backed Joshua to win their anticipated encounter. He described Fury as an exceptional and dangerous opponent but expressed confidence in the changes he had observed in Joshua’s approach to training and preparation.
It was not simply a prediction based on friendship or personal preference. Usyk had already experienced the strengths of both fighters in championship-level competition.
WHY USYK BELIEVES JOSHUA HAS THE TOOLS TO SURPRISE FURY
For years, the boxing public has debated whether Joshua possesses the right combination of technical ability, confidence, and tactical discipline to defeat Fury.
The discussion has become particularly interesting because Joshua’s career has included both impressive victories and difficult setbacks.
His physical attributes have never been in question. At heavyweight, Joshua possesses the punching power to change a contest with a single clean connection. However, facing Fury requires considerably more than relying on strength.
Fury has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to make opponents uncomfortable. His size, movement, clinching ability, and experience allow him to create situations in which even powerful punchers struggle to establish their preferred rhythm.
This is where Usyk’s observations about Joshua become important.
According to reporting from May 2026, the Ukrainian had been helping Joshua develop a strategy for the anticipated Fury contest. Their work involved boxing technique, preparation, and psychological aspects of competition.
Usyk had also spent time with Joshua in Spain and Ukraine, giving him an opportunity to observe the British fighter’s preparation more closely.
That relationship adds another dimension to the rivalry.
Joshua is not simply preparing for another major heavyweight contest. He has access to advice from the man who has already defeated Fury twice.
For a fighter attempting to solve one of boxing’s most complicated heavyweight puzzles, that experience could prove valuable.
Nevertheless, having Usyk in his corner does not guarantee victory. Fury remains an experienced former world champion with the physical and tactical qualities to make any heavyweight fight extremely difficult.
FURY’S CONFIDENCE ADDS ANOTHER LAYER TO THE RIVALRY
While Usyk has expressed confidence in Joshua, Fury has continued to project enormous self-belief.
The former heavyweight champion has repeatedly discussed his ambitions surrounding the Joshua fight and his desire to eventually face Usyk again.
Fury’s comments have made it clear that he does not view the Joshua contest as the end of his heavyweight ambitions.
In September 2026, negotiations surrounding the long-awaited British showdown encountered significant uncertainty over the location and financial arrangements. Fury publicly expressed frustration and challenged Usyk to consider a third fight after suggesting that the Joshua contest was in danger of falling apart.
Usyk’s team responded firmly.
His manager, Sergey Lapin, rejected the idea that the Ukrainian would serve as a backup opponent for Fury. The message was straightforward: serious intentions require a concrete offer rather than public statements.
That exchange demonstrated how quickly the situation could become complicated.
Fury wanted another opportunity against the man responsible for two of his professional defeats. Usyk, however, was unwilling to accept the role of an alternative option while negotiations involving Joshua remained unresolved.
The episode also reinforced the importance of the Joshua fight to the wider heavyweight landscape.
THE TWO USYK DEFEATS THAT STILL DEFINE FURY’S CAREER
The history between Fury and Usyk is central to understanding why a potential trilogy remains such an attractive proposition.
Their first encounter took place in May 2024 in Saudi Arabia.
It was a historic contest, bringing together two of the most accomplished heavyweight champions of their generation. Fury entered the fight with considerable physical advantages, while Usyk relied on speed, movement, timing, and tactical discipline.
The contest developed into a highly competitive encounter.
Usyk eventually secured a split-decision victory, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.
The result was a major turning point in Fury’s career.
Seven months later, the two men met again.
The rematch provided Fury with an opportunity to reverse the result, but Usyk once again demonstrated his ability to adapt under pressure. This time, the Ukrainian secured a unanimous-decision victory.
Two fights had produced two victories for Usyk.
For Fury, that record remains a significant part of his sporting legacy. For Usyk, it represents proof that he successfully solved one of the most difficult heavyweight challenges of his career.
A third encounter would therefore carry enormous historical significance.
However, the possibility of another fight depends on the fighters’ schedules, contractual arrangements, and willingness to reach an agreement.
JOSHUA’S CHALLENGE IS BIGGER THAN JUST BEATING FURY
For Joshua, the proposed showdown represents an opportunity to answer questions that have followed him throughout his career.
He has already experienced the pressure of competing for world heavyweight championships, fighting in front of enormous audiences, and dealing with the expectations that accompany being one of Britain’s most recognizable boxers.
But Fury represents a different kind of challenge.
The two British fighters have been linked with each other for years. Their rivalry has generated countless discussions, negotiations, predictions, and public exchanges without producing the fight fans have wanted.
That history has made the eventual meeting particularly important.
Joshua understands that a victory would significantly strengthen his position in the heavyweight division. It would also change the conversation surrounding his career and potentially open the door to another major championship opportunity.
However, the danger is equally obvious.
Fury has the experience to exploit mistakes, control the pace, and make the fight uncomfortable over multiple rounds.
Joshua cannot afford to approach the contest as a simple test of punching power.
He needs to demonstrate patience, defensive discipline, accurate combinations, and the ability to maintain concentration when Fury attempts to disrupt his rhythm.
These are precisely the areas in which advice from Usyk could become important.
THE DECEMBER 11 SHOWDOWN PUTS EVERYTHING INTO FOCUS
The anticipated British heavyweight rivalry received a major development when the December 11, 2026, contest between Fury and Joshua was announced for Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
The fight is expected to attract enormous international attention, with Netflix set to broadcast the event.
The announcement transformed years of speculation into a scheduled heavyweight attraction.
Fury has also made clear that he wants to use the Joshua fight as a pathway toward another meeting with Usyk. In September, he described Joshua as a stepping stone to a potential trilogy.
That statement reveals how Fury views the wider heavyweight picture.
He wants to defeat Joshua, restore his standing, and eventually secure another opportunity against the Ukrainian who defeated him twice.
Joshua, however, has his own reasons for approaching the contest with maximum determination.
A victory would represent one of the most significant achievements of his career and would dramatically alter the balance of power among the leading heavyweight names.
Neither man can afford to treat the contest as an ordinary fight.
WHAT MAKES USYK’S OPINION SO IMPORTANT?
Boxing predictions are common, but not every prediction comes from someone with direct experience against both competitors.
Usyk occupies a particularly interesting position.
He understands Joshua’s offensive capabilities because he has faced them. He understands Fury’s defensive and tactical approach because he has spent 24 rounds competing against him across their two encounters.
That background makes his assessment valuable, although it does not make the outcome certain.
There is also an important distinction between knowing how to defeat a fighter and successfully preparing another boxer to reproduce that strategy.
Joshua has his own physical characteristics, habits, strengths, and weaknesses. A plan that worked for Usyk cannot simply be copied and expected to produce the same result.
The challenge for Joshua’s team is to identify which lessons can be transferred while building a strategy suited to Joshua’s individual abilities.
Fury will undoubtedly have his own preparation.
He knows that Joshua possesses genuine knockout power and that even a brief lapse in concentration could change the entire contest.
The tactical battle could therefore become just as important as the physical confrontation.
THE HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION IS WATCHING
The significance of Joshua versus Fury extends beyond the two men involved.
The heavyweight division has spent years discussing the possibility of a contest that could finally settle one of its most enduring rivalries.
Usyk’s involvement adds another compelling dimension because both fighters have already suffered defeats against him.
If Joshua defeats Fury, the Ukrainian’s earlier assessment will receive renewed attention. If Fury wins, he could move closer to the third Usyk encounter he has repeatedly discussed.
Either outcome would have major consequences for the next stage of the heavyweight landscape.
The financial scale, international attention, and sporting implications make the contest one of the most anticipated boxing events of 2026.
But the central issue remains the same: can Joshua translate his preparation into a performance capable of overcoming Fury’s experience and unpredictable style?
THE FINAL WORD: USYK HAS MADE HIS POSITION CLEAR
Oleksandr Usyk does not need to rely on speculation when discussing these two heavyweights.
He has already defeated both men twice, and his public support for Joshua provides a fascinating perspective ahead of their scheduled December encounter.
Fury has made his ambitions clear. He wants to defeat Joshua and eventually return to the ring with Usyk.
Joshua, meanwhile, has an opportunity to deliver the performance that could reshape his heavyweight legacy.
The Ukrainian’s assessment may become one of the most discussed talking points as fight night approaches. Yet the final verdict will not come from predictions, interviews, or public exchanges.
It will come inside the ring.
