Tyson Fury dealt undisputed blow as Dubois jumps queue for Usyk fight

Tyson Fury’s hopes of becoming the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis have been dealt a damaging blow after the WBA ordered Oleksandr Usyk to face Daniel Dubois next. The surprise call looks set to scupper the Gypsy King’s chances of getting his hands on his Ukrainian rival after their heated confrontation in the ring following Fury’s stoppage victory over Derek Chisora earlier this month.

Plans for Fury to face Usyk in early 2023 have now been taking shape following progressive talks between both parties.

There is a growing appetite from both camps to get the deal over the line but now the teams have been thrown a major banana skin following the WBA’s convention in Orlando, Florida.

The governing body have now announced that they want their heavyweight champion Usyk to defend his belts against Dubois next meaning Fury’s stablemate could now stop him from earning his shot at all of the marbles.

Given Frank Warren also promotes Dubois, there is a good chance he will now focus his efforts on securing Fury the fight.

However, it remains to be seen whether the WBA will let Dubois step-aside without Usyk vacating his title.

Dubois is currently the WBA’s regular world champion after beating Trevor Bryan for the belt in June in the United States.

The hard-hitting 25-year-old recently survived three first-round knockdowns against Kevin Lerena to retain his title on the undercard of Fury’s one-sided beating of Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Shane McGuigan’s man was lucky to weather the storm given the WBA usually have a three-knockdown rule that ends the fight but the rule is not applicable on UK soil.

Given Usyk is in a class of his own alongside Fury, Warren seems unlikely to throw his heavyweight contender in at the deep end having already lost to Joe Joyce in 2020.

There is also a chance that Dubois is carrying an injury after he was limping around the ring during his pulsating clash with Lerena.

Fury, meanwhile, is ready to be back out again in February or March following a short rest over the Christmas period.

He has already made it abundantly clear that Usyk is the man he wants next but he is also ready to face British rival Joyce should a fight fail to bear fruit.

“I’m ready and willing to take on Usyk next,” Fury recently stated. “Let’s give the fans one champion, one name, one face.

“Usyk’s ready for the challenge. He came over tonight so fair play to him. I’m really looking forward to the challenge.

“But if for whatever reason — sometimes the big fights don’t happen — then we’ll have Joe Joyce at Wembley.

“But provided Usyk does happen then I’ll have him and then do Joe Joyce at Wembley. Why not?”