Fury has just done a big favour for three fighters including Dubois

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk has reportedly collapsed adding to the long list of highly-anticipated matchups that have fallen by the wayside over the years. Although it may be all doom and gloom for boxing fans, three fighters have benefited from the recent development: Daniel Dubois, Joe Joyce and Anthony Joshua.

Starting with the former, Dubois is now the frontrunner to box Usyk next. Triple D is the WBA (regular) champion and is therefore the mandatory challenger for the more prestigious WBA (super) belt which is in Usyk’s possession.

The WBA and Dubois are next up in the sanctioning body rotation system ahead of the IBF’s No1 contender Filip Hrgovic and WBO interim champion Joyce. There had been concerns that Dubois would not be able to take up the challenge in time after suffering a torn ACL in his last outing against Kevin Lerena.

However, his promoter Frank Warren recently told Express Sport that his client is back in training and ready to return around mid to late May. Usyk’s team have confirmed that the Ukrainian intends to box again in June or July with a period of recovery needed after his long training camp for the doomed Fury fight.

The next fighter that has been done a favour is Joyce. Although he is third in the pecking order to box Usyk he should be at the front of the queue to face Fury next if the Mancunian sticks to his word.

Following the third Derek Chisora bout in December, Fury promised that he would fight Joyce at Wembley Stadium if he wasn’t able to thrash out a deal with Usyk. “If Oleksandr Usyk don’t want no smoke in February [the originally proposed date], then let’s do Joe Joyce at Wembley. Joe, get fit mush, because if the middleweight don’t want no smoke, you’re in. I’m fighting three times next year and you can be,” Fury told the Queensbury Promotions YouTube channel in October.

Finally, there is Joshua who has seen a big shift in public perception since the Fury-Usyk breakdown. After Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas confirmed to boxing reporter Steve Kims that the fight is off due to Fury moving the goalposts in negotiations, many supporters have heaped praise on AJ for getting two fights over the line with the former cruiserweight champion. A much-needed boost before his comeback fight against Jermaine Franklin on April 1.

One fan (@endthestigma103) tweeted: “I think everyone should have more respect for @anthonyjoshua now… Back to back fights with Usyk made without a problem, never once heard team Usyk complain.. @Tyson_Fury is literally the biggest bottle job in the history of boxing. ZERO interest in this guy anymore..”

Another (@JSolz) wrote: “At least now people can’t blame @anthonyjoshua for not fighting @Tyson_Fury last year The fraud has been found it.”

Meanwhile, a third (@Voltmah1) added: “People need to give respect to Anthony Joshua, he could’ve vacated his belt to avoid Usyk in 2021, but he lost and went straight into a rematch and performed better, meanwhile Tyson fury “the greatest HW of our generation” is obviously ducking Usyk and it’s a shame #boxing.”