With Fury vs Usyk OFF, what happens next in the heavyweight division?

With Fury vs Usyk OFF, what happens next at heavyweight? The Gypsy King will likely target an all-British scrap with Joe Joyce, while Daniel Dubois is set for a shot at the unified champion… but where do Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder fit in?

• Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed showdown looks dead in the water
• British star Dubois is next in line for a shot at Usyk’s unified heavyweight titles
• Joyce will now be the frontrunner to lock horn with WBC champion Fury next

Just like that, boxing’s wait for its next undisputed heavyweight champion goes on.

It has been over two decades since one fighter reigned supreme in the sport’s blue-riband division, with Lennox Lewis last occupying the throne all the way back in 2000, yet that depressing statistic finally looked set to change this year.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk entered 2023 with a stranglehold on all four world championships, their undefeated records intact and no rematch clauses or mandatory challenges tying them down. At long last the coast was clear for the battle to crown an undisputed king. Nothing could get in its way… could it?

Of course, boxing has always had a fitting tendency to floor you when you least expect it, and one week after Fury declared the April 29 mega-fight was ‘definitely’ on, we’ve been left with that all-too-familiar sinking feeling once again after talks were pronounced dead on Wednesday evening.

Bang. There goes the undisputed pipedream once more. And when Fury and Usyk likely prevail in alternative title defences, you can bet your house on the same disappointing cycle playing out again later this year.

Tyson Fury (left) and Usyk (right) will not meet for the undisputed heavyweight crown

Usyk and his team have thrown in the towel on the fight after growing tired of negotiations

Daniel Dubois (left) and Joe Joyce (right) are the biggest winners of Fury vs Usyk collapsing

The blame game is now in full swing, with most joining Usyk and his team in pointing the finger directly at Fury for this infuriating collapse, yet talk must turn to what happens next given the Wembley showpiece is definitely off the cards.

While it undoubtedly comes as another damaging blow to the sport, the two biggest winners from Fury vs Usyk falling by the wayside are British duo Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois – although some may argue Fury has also triumphed by successfully avoiding Usyk.

As mandatory challenger for Usyk’s WBA strap, Dubois is now guaranteed a shot at the Ukrainian next if he chooses to take it. The WBA were next in line to call their mandatory for Usyk prior to negotiations with Fury, only to shelve those plans in order for their champion to push ahead (unsuccessfully) in negotiating the undisputed fight.

Thus, with that now dead in the water Dubois is free to activate his mandatory position and lock horns with Usyk, yet whether he and trainer Shane McGuigan decide that a wise move remains to be seen.

The 25-year-old, who currently holds the WBA’s ‘regular’ title, was enjoying a rapid ascent in the division prior to his meeting with Joyce in November 2020, which served as an important reality check in the early stages of his professional career.

Having talked up potential battles with the likes of Usyk and Anthony Joshua, Dubois was brought back down to earth by Joyce, who forced him to take a knee and retire in the 10th round after fracturing his eye socket.

Since then he has slowly regained confidence and repaired his reputation in wins over Bogdan Dinu, Joe Cusumano, Trevor Bryan and Kevin Lerena, though the latter victory proved a lot hairier than expected when he was dropped three times inside the opening round.

While the final two knockdowns were the result of a knee injury, Dubois remains very much a work in progress and, thus, jumping in with Usyk, a pugilistic master likely to go down as one of the greatest in history, may not be the shrewdest of decisions right now.

Dubois is next in line for a shot at Usyk as mandatory challenger for his WBA ‘super’ title

But it remains to be seen whether Dubois, who was dropped three times in his last win over Kevin Lerena, takes the opportunity

Taking on one of the best pound-for-pound fighters of all time in Usyk may not be the shrewdest of moves for the 25-year-old at this stage of his career

If he passes up the world-title shot, IBF mandatory Filip Hrgovic could step up to the plate and provide Usyk’s next test in the summer.

Joyce is the third mandatory challenger on the unified champion’s horizon, however he has worked into that position with the WBO, who are believed to be at the back of the queue given Usyk himself was mandated with the sanctioning body to face Joshua in September 2021.

Fortunately for the Juggernaut, Fury is free of any mandatory obligations having dispatched of the WBC’s No 1 contender, Dillian Whyte, in April of last year, and a domestic showdown between who many would argue are the UK’s top two heavyweights makes sense for both parties.

Joyce is next in action against fellow Olympic silver medallist Zhilei Zhang on April 15, and providing he emerges unscathed he will be at the front of the queue for a crack at Fury. The duo are also both under Frank Warren’s Queensberry banner, meaning this one would actually be simple to negotiate for a change.

But what about Joshua?

In a return which has almost flown under the radar, the crestfallen ex-champion begins what he hopes will be a journey back to the top of the heavyweight tree against Jermaine Franklin next weekend.

While many felt he got the better of Dillian Whyte last year, Franklin is a B-level heavyweight at best and, if firing on all cylinders, AJ should get past him inside the distance.

Joyce could earn a shot at Fury if he comes out on top against Zhilei Zhang on April 15

The Juggernaut is under the same Queensberry banner as Fury, meaning it is easy to make

But Anthony Joshua will throw himself back into the mix if he beats Jermaine Franklin at The O2 Arena next weekend

And don’t forget Deontay Wilder… the Bronze Bomber remains in the heavyweight picture

Two weeks before Joyce takes on Zhang, it is inevitable that Fury vs Joshua will resurface as the next dream match-up for fans to salivate over. Nevertheless, after failing to agree terms for their long-awaited encounter as recently as four months ago, don’t hold your breath…

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn outlined his plans to revive talks with Fury’s team in an exclusive chat with Sportsmail on Wednesday, yet if he still has ambitions of becoming undisputed champion the Gypsy King may opt for Joyce in April before setting his sights back on Usyk.

The only other option out there for Fury is the WBC’s No 1 ranked contender and a name he may be familiar with… Deontay Wilder.

When assessing the heavyweight landscape Wilder has to be taken into account, given the brutal manner in which he wiped out Robert Helenius last October.

The explosive American has still only ever been toppled by Fury, and while his story with the latter is complete after three epic chapters, Usyk is now in his sights.

‘If the Usyk fight is available, Deontay will take it in a heartbeat,’ Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel told Sky Sports on Wednesday.

Usyk vs Wilder, Fury vs Joshua, Fury vs Joyce, Usyk vs Dubois or even Joshua vs Wilder – some fascinating heavyweight options remain despite the misery of another undisputed false dawn.

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