Champ: Tyson Fury
(Picture: Getty Images)Tyson Fury wants a February heavyweight reunification fight with Oleksandr Usyk but has lined up Joe Joyce as back-up should the former fall through.
Saudi Arabia remains favourite to host Fury-Usyk should the former come through his latest meeting with Derek Chisora in two weekends’ time.
But the WBC champion has warned WBA, WBO and IBF holder Usyk might not want the bout.
“Usyk is top of the shopping list provided I get through this one and, if not, a rematch with Chisora for the fourth time,” said Fury.
“If Usyk don’t want no smoke in February, let’s do Joyce at Wembley. Joe, get your skates on, get fit, because if the middleweight don’t want no smoke you’re in. I’m fighting three times next year and you could be one of them.”
Fury said he rated his British rival Joyce, who is looked after by the same Queensberry promotion company, higher than both Joshua and Usyk in terms of the best heavyweights in the world.
“He is the No2 ranked heavyweight in the world behind myself,” said Fury. “Maybe No3 because I don’t think anybody in the world can take Deontay Wilder’s power, only myself.”
Fury has fought just once in over a year since his final fight against Wilder, defeating Dillian Whyte with ease after which he announced his retirement from boxing. He performed a U-turn to initially face Joshua before that fight fell through and is lining up a string of back-to-back fights with Frank Warren.
“I’ve told Frank I want to be a nice, active heavyweight champion, no messing around, no retiring, no long stints out of the ring,” he said.
