Oleksandr Usyk welcomes a trilogy fight with Anthony Joshua after the Tyson Fury rematch and credits the British heavyweight for elevating his profile to household name status

Oleksandr Usyk has announced a three-fight bout with Anthony Joshua, claiming he would love to face the Briton for a third time after ‘beating Tyson Fury’ in their revenge match in December.

The Ukrainian superstar spoke to Poland’s Mail Sport earlier this month about his fight with the Gypsy King and what the future holds after their rematch in December.

On May 18, Usyk won against Fury. The judges scored the fight that night 115-112 for Usyk, 114-113 for Fury and 114-113 for Usyk. The Ukrainian won via split decision and became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999.

Fury will be looking for revenge in their rematch on December 21, but Usyk is confident he can secure a second win over the Gypsy King, whose professional record now stands at 34-1-1.

When asked who he would like to fight after facing Fury for the second time, Usyk told Mail Sport he would be open to a trilogy with Anthony Joshua, acknowledging that the British star has played a major role in raising his reputation to a household name.

The Ukrainian superstar spoke to Mail Sport in Poland earlier this month to reflect on his fight with the Gypsy King and preview what the future holds following their rematch.

Exclusively in conversation with Mail SportUsyk said: ‘I don’t necessarily want a rematch, but if we beat Tyson Fury for the second time and Anthony Joshua beats Daniel Dubois, of course they want a third fight.

“From my point of view, I have no right to deny Anthony a third fight, because he gave me two incredible fights. Anthony helped me become even more famous in the world. Anthony did it. And if it happens with God’s help, then I am ready for a third fight with Anthony.”

The first and second fights between AJ and Usyk were defining moments in both fighters’ careers. They showcased Usyk’s skill and composure, but also exposed some unseen vulnerabilities in Joshua’s game.

The first bout took place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, where Joshua defended his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles against the Ukrainian.

Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion, had moved up to heavyweight and was seen as a dangerous but manageable opponent for Joshua, who had the advantage of his size and strength.

From the opening bell, Usyk’s superior footwork, speed and technical ability were evident. He used his southpaw stance effectively, darting in and out of range and landing clean shots on Joshua.

The first and second fights between AJ and Usyk were defining moments in both fighters’ careers, with Usyk’s skill and composure highlighted

Joshua lost both the first and second matches to the Ukrainian (pictured above)

Despite Joshua’s attempts to show his physical strength, Usyk outmaneuvered the British heavyweight at every turn, disrupting Joshua’s rhythm and forcing him to stand on the wrong foot.

Usyk continued to dominate in the closing rounds and when the fight ended it was clear to many that Usyk had outdone Joshua, who is regarded as the ‘golden boy’ of British boxing.

The judges unanimously scored the fight in favor of Usyk, crowning him the new heavyweight champion. In doing so, he handed Joshua his second career defeat, having previously lost to Andy Ruiz Jr.

The rematch took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with Joshua determined to regain his titles. This time Joshua took a more aggressive approach, focusing on body shots and trying to close the distance to Usyk.

The fight was more competitive than the first, with Joshua having more success in the middle rounds. However, Usyk’s adaptability and resilience saw him regain control in the later rounds, particularly with a strong finish in the championship rounds.

When the final bell rang, the decision was once again in Usyk’s favor, albeit a split decision. Although Joshua’s effort was more energetic than in their first meeting, it was not enough to regain his belts.

Joshua, 32, was furious after the second fight and immediately stormed out of the ring.

But the two-time heavyweight champion returned to the ring to address the crowd and give Usyk the credit he deserved

Usyk previously said he wanted to give back to those who suffered during the war

Immediately after, Joshua’s emotions got the better of him. Visibly upset, he stormed out of the ring, only to return moments later. In a shocking display of frustration, Joshua threw two of Usyk’s belts out of the ring, symbolically throwing away the titles he had just lost.

He then took the microphone and launched into an impassioned, rambling speech, praising Usyk but also venting his frustrations about the fight and his career. The episode was widely seen as a moment of vulnerability for Joshua.

Joshua, who fights Daniel Dubois in September, has since defeated Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou and will be looking for revenge on the Ukrainian if the opportunity arises.