Terence Crawford Names Tyson Fury No. 2 Behind Oleksandr Usyk

Crawford backs Fury over rising heavyweights as division shifts around Usyk

Terence Crawford has ranked Tyson Fury as the No. 2 heavyweight behind Oleksandr Usyk. The view keeps the focus on established names as younger contenders begin to move into position.

Crawford kept Usyk at the top of the heavyweight order while naming Tyson Fury as the man just behind him, passing over names like Fabio Wardley, Moses Itauma, and Agit Kabayel as the division moves toward a transition period. When Crawford was asked on X who is the #2 heavyweight behind Usyk, he named Fury.

Usyk remains the unified champion holding the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles. His WBO belt has already changed hands, creating early movement near the top, and the champion has spoken about a short-term plan that could bring his career to a close within the next year. That timeline also hangs over Fury and Anthony Joshua, who are set to fight later this year after both were beaten twice by Usyk.

Crawford’s view keeps the focus on the established names even as the next group begins to move into position. Wardley, now 31, has picked up a world title and is expected to stay active. Daniel Dubois is due to challenge for the WBO belt this month, while Kabayel is in line for a shot at the WBC title, depending on how the sanctioning bodies handle Usyk’s status.

Fury returned recently after more than a year out following his second loss to Usyk, taking a decision win over Arslanbek Makhmudov. The performance drew mixed reactions given the opponent and lack of a stoppage, but Crawford’s ranking suggests he still views Fury as a factor near the top.

Joshua is scheduled to face Kristian Prenga next, a move that has slowed talk of an immediate meeting with Fury and left both men looking at interim options before a bigger fight can be finalized.

Itauma, 21, continues to be mentioned as a future contender, but Crawford’s stance highlights how much of the division still runs through the fighters at the top, even as retirement talk and title movement begin to open space for the next wave.

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