Tyson Fury told why he must wait for Oleksandr Usyk trilogy fight as promoter speaks out

Boxing followers have predicted a potential third fight against Tyson Fury for Oleksandr Usyk, but the Ukrainian is more likely to come up against Joseph Parker first

Joseph Parker’s promoter, David Higgins, has told Oleksandr Usyk that he won’t have faced the best fighters of his era until he meets the New Zealander in the ring. Great Britain’s Tyson Fury has previously said he will fight Usyk in a proposed trilogy showdown at Wembley Stadium.

Fury retired from boxing in January – just one month after his unanimous-decision defeat to the Ukrainian in the second fight between them. Usyk won the first fight in May 2024 by split decision, while Fury has been tipped to return to the ring eventually.

But Parker has emerged as the mandatory challenger for Usyk’s WBO title. If Parker beats Fabio Wardley – when they collide this Saturday at the O2 Arena – Usyk will have to face the 33-year-old if he’s to retain his undisputed world heavyweight champion status.

READ MORE: ‘I trained world champion boxer – here’s how Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo fight would go’READ MORE: Tom Aspinall issues warning to Ciryl Gane after rival’s chilling threat

And Higgins has now had his say on a potential bout between Parker and Usyk, offering a tantalising preview of what could happen in 2026. “If he doesn’t fight Parker, I’d argue that he hasn’t faced all of the best of the era,” he told Sky Sports.

“For the perfect resume he needs the Parker fight. I’m sure he backs himself to beat anyone on earth, including Parker. Of course he does, any boxer at this level does need to have that mindset.

“Parker would back himself to beat Usyk. So it would be a wonderful match-up if it happens.”

Higgins is now confident that it will happen, as long as Parker is victorious over Wardley. He reckons that the Usyk fight could then take place within the first half of 2026.

He added: “That’s the sense I’m getting. I think Usyk’s an honourable guy, one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the history of the sport. What he’s achieved is remarkable – as an amateur, then as a cruiserweight and now as a heavyweight,” the promoter said.

“Monumental from Usyk and I think he’s honourable and I think he would see that Joseph has earned the shot, the good old-fashioned hard way by doing the hard yards.”

Meanwhile, Usyk’s advisor, Sergey Lapin, has poured doubt on a third fight against Fury – having already defeated the Manchester-born fighter twice. “Theoretically, it’s an interesting option, but for whom?” Lapin said when asked by Ring Magazine.

“If the boxing fans truly support it, then maybe. However, in my opinion, that chapter is already closed.”