Heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury has identified Agit Kabayel and Daniel Dubois as his primary alternative opponents if a long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua fails to materialize. Speaking in an interview with IFL.TV on June 19, 2026, the 37-year-old indicated he is prepared to pivot toward other major title opportunities to secure his legacy as a three-time world champion.
The potential move comes as negotiations for a showdown with Anthony Joshua continue to face repeated derailments. While Tyson Fury remains ranked No. 1 with the World Boxing Council (WBC), he admitted he is open to fighting “anybody” if the domestic mega-fight cannot be signed.
This logistical uncertainty has forced the “Gypsy King” to monitor the status of other heavyweight titleholders and contenders across the major sanctioning bodies.
Tyson Fury considers Wembley showdown with Agit Kabayel
A central figure in Tyson Fury’s future plans is Agit Kabayel, the current WBC interim world heavyweight champion. Agit Kabayel is currently ordered to face unified champion Oleksandr Usyk by June 30. If Oleksandr Usyk pulls out of that obligation, Agit Kabayel could be elevated to full champion status, presenting Tyson Fury with a direct route to another world title.
The relationship between Tyson Fury and Agit Kabayel adds a layer of personal history to the potential match-up. Tyson Fury has known the 33-year-old German since he was a young boxer and has previously helped manage and promote him.
Despite previously calling him a “brother,” Tyson Fury now describes him as a “big, destroying man” and expressed interest in facing him if the path to a third world title opens up.
Agit Kabayel maintains a perfect professional record of 27 wins, 0 losses, and 19 knockouts. His most recent outing was a third-round technical knockout victory over Damian Knyba on January 10, 2026, in Oberhausen, Germany. Tyson Fury noted that if the fight were to happen, he would want to “take it to Wembley.” This suggests a major stadium event for the undefeated interim champion.
While Tyson Fury remains focused on his own career, the heavyweight landscape continues to shift globally. Just as Robeisy Ramirez calls out Mauricio Sulaiman over administrative hurdles in other weight classes, the heavyweight division is currently dictated by WBC and WBO mandates that could sideline the Anthony Joshua fight in favor of mandatory defenses.
Agit Kabayel’s rise through the heavyweight ranks
Agit Kabayel has secured several notable victories in recent years to cement his position at the top of the WBC rankings. On February 22, 2025, he stopped Zhilei Zhang in the sixth round in Riyadh, and he previously earned a seventh-round knockout over Frank Sanchez in May 2024. He also holds a 2017 majority decision victory over veteran Derek Chisora.
With a 70% knockout ratio and an 80-inch reach, Agit Kabayel represents a significant technical challenge. Tyson Fury acknowledged these credentials during his interview, stating that if the Anthony Joshua fight “doesn’t happen for whatever reason,” Agit Kabayel is a logical choice for a homecoming at Wembley Stadium.
Daniel Dubois emerges as a high-stakes secondary option
In addition to Agit Kabayel, Tyson Fury named current WBO champion Daniel Dubois as a potential foe. Daniel Dubois is coming off an 11-round stoppage of Fabio Wardley in May 2026, a bout Tyson Fury described as an “unbelievable fight” and a candidate for “Fight of the Year.” Tyson Fury praised both men for their performance in the grueling contest.
The 28-year-old Daniel Dubois holds a record of 23 wins and 3 losses, with an impressive 96% knockout rate. His career has seen major highs, including a fifth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium. He also defeated Filip Hrgovic via technical knockout in June 2024, prior to suffering a knockout loss to Oleksandr Usyk in July 2025.
The intensity of the recent Dubois-Wardley fight was so pronounced that Usyk raises brain health concerns regarding the damage sustained by both participants. Despite the physical toll of that bout, Tyson Fury appears ready to test himself against the power-punching Londoner if the primary plan with Anthony Joshua falls through.
Heavyweight divisional politics and the road ahead
The timing of these potential bouts rests heavily on the looming June 30 deadline for the WBC mandatory. If the unified champion does not meet Agit Kabayel, the interim titleholder’s elevation would likely trigger a negotiation period with Tyson Fury as the No. 1 contender. This scenario offers a faster route to a title than waiting for the often-stalled Anthony Joshua deal.
Anthony Joshua continues to be a central figure in these discussions, recently dismissing injury concerns surrounding other bouts with his “That’s fighting” comment. However, Tyson Fury’s public identification of Agit Kabayel and Daniel Dubois suggests a growing impatience with the “repeated derailments” that have plagued domestic negotiations for years.
For now, Tyson Fury remains in a position of strength as the top-ranked WBC contender. Whether he pursues a clash with the technical Agit Kabayel or the explosive Daniel Dubois, the “Gypsy King” has made it clear that he will not allow the uncertainty of the Anthony Joshua fight to dictate the final chapters of his career.
