Tyson Fury could be set to go toe-to-toe with Wladimir Klitschko in 2025 after facing Oleksandr Usyk come December 21.

The ‘Gypsy King’ is currently making his final preparations for his rematch with the undefeated Usyk, having missing out on undisputed heavyweight glory to his long-time rival in May. Usyk clinched a split decision victory over Fury at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh after 12 hard-fought rounds, not only relinquishing his WBC heavyweight title but also suffering the first loss of his professional career.

Usyk became the first undisputed champion at heavyweight since Lennox Lewis, adding the missing title to his collection of WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO belts – although his reign at the top didn’t last long. That’s because Usyk vacated his IBF title to give Fury an opportunity at a rematch, rather than facing the organisation’s number one contender in Daniel Dubois.

With a record of 34-1-1, Fury will hope to recapture heavyweight gold and best the only thorn in the side of his 16-year career when he meets with 22-0 Usyk four days before Christmas. And while many fans will hope to see a trilogy fight in 2025 should Fury reign victorious, they may have to wait a little longer before they see the two heavyweight titans run it back for a third and final time.

That’s because Klitschko may be ready to come out of retirement to face Fury next year – despite not competing professionally since his 2017 loss to Anthony Joshua. Saudi Royal Adviser Turki Alalshikh recently told Ariel Helwani that Klitschko is ready for his grand return to the ring, dependent on the outcome of other bouts.

He explained: “The result of Fury vs Usyk, there are a lot of people waiting for. One is Dubois, there is also Joshua. At the same time there is a third person. I am dreaming to see this fight. To give the chance, if he accepts, Klitschko to get back and have the chance to be the oldest heavyweight champion in history.

Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury fought in 2015

Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury fought in 2015 ( 

Image:

Bongarts/Getty Images)

“To give him the chance. This is perfect.” Alalshikh also noted how Klitschko will not fight Usyk, a fellow countryman, and that a rematch with Fury is a ‘dream’. He added: “Fury has a lot of people who want him now but this is the dream. Fury vs Klitschko is what people want to see from 2015 again. There is also Joshua [vs Fury], of course Dubois deserves this chance as well. Let’s see.”

Klitschko and his brother, Vitali, dominated the world of boxing for more than a decade – with Wladimir still the world record holder for the longest reigning heavyweight champion at 4,382 days in total. Klitschko initially won the IBF and IBO titles in 2006 after scoring a seventh-round TKO victory over Chris Byrd, defending three times before adding the WBO belt courtesy of a 2008 unanimous decision win over Sultan Ibragimov.

A unanimous win over David Haye in 2011 added the WBA (Super) title to Klitschko’s growing resume, before the now 48-year-old lost his collection to Fury in November 2015 – losing by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. With a record of 64-5, Klitschko’s last bout came in the form of a 2017 showdown with Joshua for the IBF, WBA (Super) and IBO titles, in which he suffered an 11th-round TKO loss.

It comes after it was reported in November that Klitschko was ready to return to the ring to fight Dubois for his IBF title in February. However, a deal never came to fruition, with ‘DDD’ set to make his first defence of the belt against Joseph Parker.