On December 21st, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oleksandr Usyk shattered Tyson Fury’s aspirations of reclaiming his place at the summit of boxing. The undefeated Ukrainian champion defended his unified heavyweight titles with a masterful performance over 12 grueling rounds. Despite ‘The Gypsy King’s’ relentless efforts, he fell short against Usyk, who extended his flawless record to 23-0, solidifying his legacy as one of boxing’s all-time greats.
For the second consecutive time, Tyson Fury failed to overcome his rival, with the fight culminating in a contentious decision that left the British heavyweight visibly frustrated. ‘The Gypsy King’ dismissed the judges’ verdict, calling it a “Christmas gift” to Usyk. Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, was equally vocal, criticizing the scorecards, which favored Usyk 116-112. This historic bout has undeniably elevated Oleksandr Usyk’s status in the world of boxing, further solidifying his place among the sport’s legends.
Meanwhile, Tyson Fury finds himself at a crossroads. Back-to-back losses to Usyk have cast a shadow over his once-dominant legacy, sparking a debate about his future. Should the British heavyweight hang up his gloves and give up his dreams of claiming back his titles, or should he seek redemption by taking on a new challenger? One potential path could be a return to the realm of crossover boxing bouts, like his blockbuster showdown a year ago with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Heralded as one of the most significant crossovers in combat sports history, the bout with ‘The Predator’ didn’t unfold as smoothly for ‘The Gypsy King’ as many had expected.
One name that Tyson Fury could take on in his next fight is fellow British boxer Anthony Joshua. Then again, does a highly skilled, dangerous opponent like ‘AJ’ make sense for Fury at this stage of his career? On the other hand, there’s talk that ‘The Gypsy King’ should face another UFC heavyweight champion – but this time, in an MMA bout with Jon Jones. After all, ‘The Gypsy King’ has spent some time training in mixed martial arts with Jones’ current arch rival Tom Aspinall. However, the former UFC middleweight champion thinks that’s a horrible idea.
In the aftermath of Usyk vs. Fury II, ‘The Count’ said the following in his Believe You Me podcast, “What should Tyson Fury do next? Should he retire? Should he fight Anthony Joshua Should he go and do something else? Should he come over to the UFC and fight Jon Jones to prove he’s the baddest man on the planet? No, he should not do that. Please, for the love of God, don’t do that.”
Michael Bisping’s caution to the former heavyweight champion is well-placed. Fury expected to dogwalk the former UFC and current PFL heavyweight champion, given Ngannou’s limited experience in the boxing realm. However, ‘The Predator’ gave the Englishman a night to remember, by pushing him to the bring. Despite losing a closely contested split decision, Francis Ngannou did the unthinkable and knocked down Fury, in what is now an iconic moment from that fight. Fury won that fight, but the world remembers Ngannou for his incredible showing against a seasoned boxer, a champion no less.
While Jon Jones doesn’t have any boxing history or accolades to his name, he is a prime athlete with a high IQ and in-fight adaptability. His crafty skills within competition could definitely pose a threat to Tyson Fury. Not to mention, the logistics for making this fight happen could be a nightmare for all parties involved. So, who should Tyson Fury face next? A rematch with Francis Ngannou appears to be an appealing option. ‘The Predator’ has recently discussed the possibility of a second fight—let’s take a look at what he had to say.
Francis Ngannou expresses interest in Fury Rematch
Despite his successful return to MMA via the PFL, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou remains drawn to boxing. Following his victory over Renan Ferreira, The Predator’ continues to focus on securing a “good four” fights before his retirement, as he revealed on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, episode #160 of the JRE MMA Show. Despite a split-decision loss to Tyson Fury in October 2023, the Cameroonian heavyweight is determined to return to the ring.
Many fans and analysts felt Francis Ngannou performed well despite the judges’ favoring the then-champion in their bout. This led to a second boxing bout against Anthony Joshua, however, this time it was a much more horrifying outcome where ‘AJ’ knocked him out in the second round – the first KO loss of Ngannou’s career. Although his boxing future is uncertain, ‘The Predator’ recently expressed his desire for a rematch with Fury while speaking to Second Out Media. Ngannou stated, “I’m not coming back because I never left—I’m still around. What I do know for sure is that I want a rematch with Fury.”
With Tyson Fury’s recent loss to Oleksandr Usyk, could a second fight between Fury and Ngannou be on the horizon? What’s your take on who the British heavyweight should face next—another rematch with The Predator’ or a fight with someone like the “greatest MMA fighter of all time,” Jon Jones? Share your thoughts below.
The post “Fight Jon Jones and Prove That He’s the Baddest Man on the Planet” – Tyson Fury Faces His Biggest Test as Retirement Looms After Oleksandr Usyk Fight appeared first on EssentiallySports.
