In a move that surprised few familiar with the unpredictable world of boxing, heavyweight figure Tyson Fury has publicly stated that a third encounter with unified champion Oleksandr Usyk is already pencilled in for April 18, 2026. The proposed venue? London`s iconic Wembley Stadium.
Fury made the announcement himself on social media platform Instagram, adding another layer of intrigue to his ever-evolving career narrative. This follows closely on the heels of a similar hint from Turki Alalshikh, the influential chairman of Saudi Arabia`s General Entertainment Authority, suggesting Fury`s ring return in 2026.
The timing of this announcement is, shall we say, characteristically curious. Only months prior, in January of the same year, Fury had declared his retirement from the sport – a pronouncement he has, by now, delivered on multiple occasions throughout his career, each instance proving more temporary than the last. This latest claim certainly casts doubt upon the longevity of that particular retirement phase.
While Fury maps out his potential future two years in advance, the present reality for Oleksandr Usyk and his team remains focused on a much closer date. Usyk is currently preparing for a mandatory undisputed heavyweight title defence against Daniel Dubois, scheduled for July 19 at, coincidentally, Wembley Stadium.
According to Sergey Lapin, head of Usyk`s `Ready to Fight` company, while their immediate attention is solely on the Dubois challenge and the pursuit of a historic three-time undisputed championship status, the prospect of a trilogy with Fury remains on the table. Lapin indicated that discussions about a third fight have been ongoing between the teams since their second bout.
Fury`s desire for a third clash stems from his two losses to Usyk in 2024. Both fights went the distance, resulting in points defeats for Fury. He has expressed a strong desire for “revenge,” specifically stating he wants the fight to take place in England. Adding a dash of the theatrical flair he`s known for, Fury suggested he didn`t receive a “fair shout” in the previous two encounters – a sentiment that might raise an eyebrow or two given the clear results on the scorecards.
Should the stars not align for the Usyk trilogy, Fury also acknowledged the immense public appetite for a domestic super-fight against Anthony Joshua. He described this potential bout as the “biggest British fight that will ever happen,” predicting it could easily sell out Wembley Stadium in record time. However, like the Usyk scenario, Fury`s return and choice of opponent ultimately appear contingent on the “deal being right.”
So, while Tyson Fury points towards an April 2026 date for a potential third dance with Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley, the path to that colossal event is long and fraught with the usual boxing uncertainties: retirements that may or may not stick, mandatory challengers, and the ever-present requirement for negotiations to satisfy all parties. For now, it remains a date marked on Fury`s personal calendar, awaiting confirmation from the complex machinations of the heavyweight division.
Ellis Thorne 
Percy Harlow