Tyson Fury is expected to face Anthony Joshua in November, but ‘The Gypsy King’ has a back-up plan, with a potential clash against an unbeaten heavyweight having also captured his attention. 

Fury has been linked to a showdown against ‘AJ’ for a decade and fans may finally see it play out this year, with wins in their respective ‘warm-up’ bouts expected to tee up a ‘Battle of Britain’.

Joshua is scheduled to fight Albania’s Kristian Prenga and, while Fury has not yet announced his next fight, he is expected to return in August, perhaps against former sparring partner Nelson Hysa.

Even with two wins in those bouts, many feel that the ‘AJ’ vs Fury bout still has the potential to fall through, and that has been fueled by a rift behind the scenes as to who will promote the fight and where it will take place.

Should it fail to materialise once again, Fury told iFL TV that he would pursue a scrap with Germany’s Agit Kabayel, particularly if Oleksandr Usyk pulls out of their ordered contest, in the hope of fighting for the WBC title and becoming boxing’s fifth three-time heavyweight world champion.

“I would like to become a three-time champion. There are a few scenarios that are happening and I am in a great position, by the way. I am number one ranked with the WBC again, if rabbit face [Usyk] pulls out of the fight with Kabayel, then I am in with Kabayel.

“If the Joshua fight doesn’t happen, for whatever reason, then I will get my shot at three-time against Kabayel and I will take it to Wembley. He’s a big, destroying man who I’ve known from being a young lad.”

Usyk has been ordered to negotiate with mandatory challenger Kabayel, though the German has heard little progress and believes the belt will instead be vacated, seeing him upgraded to full champion.