Tyson Fury plan crumbles, world champion agrees fight - Oleksandr Usyk’s dream scenario

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are set to face off for the second time this year in a heavyweight rematch at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh tonight.

The 'Gypsy King' is eyeing a third bout with the undefeated Ukrainian if he emerges victorious, but Usyk has different plans should he win again. The pair first met in the same arena they will be fighting in this weekend back in May, when Usyk secured a narrow split-decision victory after 12 rounds.

Usyk, known as 'The Cat', was too fast and strategic for Fury during their encounter, with the judges scoring it 115-112, 114-113, 113-114 in his favour. He claimed Fury's WBC heavyweight title in his win, adding it to his WBA (Super), WBO, IBF and IBO belts, becoming the first undisputed champ in the division since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

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However, his reign was brief, as he gave up his IBF belt to offer Fury an immediate rematch instead of facing mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois, who has since unified his interim belt with the organisation. Usyk is putting his WBA, WBC and WBO belts on the line when he faces Fury again on Saturday - but what lies ahead for the 37-year-old if he secures another win over his long-standing adversary?

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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to lock horns again on December 21 with the Brit attempting to avenge his defeat by the Ukrainian in May. Victory for Fury could also set up a huge domestic showdown with bitter rival Anthony Joshua next year

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The trilogy fight collapses

Fury has been outspoken about wanting a trilogy fight with Oleksandr Usyk, should he win their upcoming bout. In a conversation with Frank Warren captured by DAZN, the 36-year-old insisted that a third fight is necessary to determine the superior fighter.

Warren had previously commented on the significance of the fight, saying: "A lot of journalists and what you read afterwards, they were saying whoever won the fight was going to be the best heavyweight of the 21st century, the fight unified champion and they'd go up there with all the greats of the past. I'm glad they've said that because, at the moment, Oleksandr got the result and won the split decision, but [if] Tyson wins it, that's where that mantle will go. That he is the best of his generation."

To which Fury interrupted: "No Frank, there will be a rematch. A trilogy. There's got to be. If he wins one and I win one, I can't say I'm better and he can't say he's better. There has to be a third one." However, Usyk may have different ideas if he defeats Fury again...

A cruiserweight return

Over the past five years or so, Usyk has carved out a successful heavyweight career, but it all began at a lighter weight class. He enjoyed an impressive 16-fight winning streak ranging from 176lbs to 200lbs at cruiserweight at the start of his career.

His first major triumph came in his tenth bout when he clinched the WBO cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision over Krzysztof Glowacki in September 2016. By January 2018, he had also secured the WBC belt with a majority decision against Mairis Briedis. In July of the same year, Usyk added the WBA (Super) and IBF cruiserweight titles to his accolades, defeating Murat Gassiev by unanimous decision, and then went on to defend his titles with an eighth-round knockout of Tony Bellew in November.

Since then, Usyk hasn't competed at cruiserweight, having vacated his titles in 2019 to step up to the heavyweight division. However, Usyk hasn't ruled out a return to cruiserweight, especially if he concludes his business with Fury this Saturday. In a conversation with Sky Sports News, Usyk said: "[If] I win again, [in] a second fight, I'll try cruiserweight again [for the undisputed title]. I'll try. I feel good. [This is] the 13th round because I feel like this."

However, Usyk is set for a challenging journey if he aims to consolidate his collection of cruiserweight gold in the near future. His first potential opponent could be WBA (Super) and WBO title holder, Gilberto Ramirez. The Mexican fighter, with a record of 47-1, secured the WBA belt following a unanimous decision victory over Arsen Goulamirian in March this year, before taking Chris Billam Smith's WBO belt through the same method last month.

Should Usyk decide to pursue gold elsewhere, he might consider negotiating a match with 28-3-3 Badou Jack, who clinched the WBC title in February 2023, or undefeated 26-0 Jai Opetaia, who has been the IBF titleholder since July 2022 - successfully defending his title four times so far.