Turki’s Mega-Money Plunge: Is Fury Worth The Riyadh Season’s Astronomical Investment?

Turki Alalshikh’s plans to bring Tyson Fury back in 2026, potentially for a trilogy fight against unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, are viewed by fans as a waste of Saudi money. This is a stone waste of money.

Fans Reject Fury-Usyk III

At this point, even UK fans aren’t chomping at the bit to see Fury fight Usyk. Americans view Tyson as a flabby mess, an overrated fighter from the get-go, who essentially built his career on wins over 39-year-old Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder..

Fan interest in a third Fury-Usyk isn’t there, given the lack of controversy surrounding Usyk’s wins against the Gypsy King last year. Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) has failed to deliver in his previous two fights against the unbeaten Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs). Even if this match were free, fans would still be uninterested in it because it has no competitive value.

Turki Alalshikh’s Fury Favoritism

People view this as an example of Turki showing favoritism toward Fury, veering away from meritocracy, where a fighter is supposed to earn world title shots by working their way through the ranks. Turki is disregarding what fans want by opting to move in the direction of a third fight between Fury and Usyk.

The public is pushing for Tyson to face Anthony Joshua. Putting Fury back in with Oleksandr is a bizarre move, given the dominant performance from Usyk in the second fight last December. Their first fight arguably should have ended by a knockout in the ninth round when Fury was teetering on the verge of being stopped, but was saved by the referee.

To earn a third fight with Usyk, Fury should have to beat these fighters in front of him in the rankings:

1. Moses Itauma
2. Anthony Joshua
3. Agit Kabayel
4. Richard Torrez Jr

The ‘Gypsy King’ will be back!!! I talked with him, and I have his word to have him in Riyadh Season in 2026 … 🥊 We have a rabbit to hunt! 🐰🐇 pic.twitter.com/yhDVkoQD1f

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) July 2, 2025