Who next for Tyson Fury? Whyte could jump queue ahead of Joshua and Usyk

WBC heavyweight champion Fury says he wants to bask in victory after defeating Wilder, but we all want to know who the Englishman will face next

WBC champion Tyson Fury knocks out Deontay Wilder in the 11th round of their incredible heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas in October, 2021. EPA

Tyson Fury on his way to the ring for his WBC heavyweight title fight with Deontay Wilder at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas on October 9, 2021. AFP

Deontay Wilder makes his entrance before the fight. Reuters

Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder prepare to fight. Reuters

Fury in action against Deontay Wilder in round one. Reuters

Tyson Fury on the front foot. Reuters

Tyson Fury lands a punch on US challenger Deontay Wilder. AFP

Tyson Fury on the attack. Reuters

Deontay Wilder is knocked down by Tyson Fury in the third round. Reuters

Tyson Fury knocks down Deontay Wilder. Reuters

Deontay Wilder knocks down Tyson Fury in the fourth round. Reuters

Tyson Fury reacts after being knocked down by Deontay Wilder. Reuters

Tyson Fury gets up after he was knocked down twice in the fourth round. AP

Tyson Fury was in big trouble in the fourth round. Reuters

Tyson Fury receives attention in his corner. Reuters

Tyson Fury fights back against Deontay Wilder. EPA

Deontay Wilder goes down on one knee as the referee holds back Tyson Fury during round six. AFP

Tyson Fury in action against Deontay Wilder in an incredible fight. Reuters

The action continued at a frenetic pace as Fury started to edge ahead on the scorecards. AP

Deontay Wilder swings at Tyson Fury as the battle continuedn into round nine. AP

Tyson Fury raises his arms after knocking down Wilder in the tenth round - but that wasn't the end. Reuters

Deontay Wilder is given the count in round ten. Reuters

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury knocks out US challenger Deontay Wilder in the 11th round. AFP

What a fight! Tyson Fury knocks out Deontay Wilder. Reuters

Tyson Fury KOs Deontay Wilder in the 11th round. AFP

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury starts his celebrations. AFP

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury after his victory against US challenger Deontay Wilder in the 11th round. AFP

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury after his victory against US challenger Deontay Wilder in the 11th round. AFP

Tyson Fury celebrates after defeating Deontay Wilder to retain his title. AP

Tyson Fury after winning the fight against Deontay Wilder. Reuters

Tyson Fury's team celebrate. Reuters

Tyson Fury gives an interview after the fight. Reuters

Tyson Fury celebrates with his wife Paris. Reuters

Tyson Fury poses for a photograph with promoters Frank Warren and Bob Arum, trainer SugarHill Steward, wife, Paris and team during a press conference after Fury won the fight against Deontay Wilder. Reuters

Tyson Fury poses for a photograph with promoters Frank Warren and Bob Arum, trainer SugarHill Steward and commentator, Crystina Poncher. Reuters

Tyson Fury during a press conference after winning the fight against Deontay Wilder, as promoter Bob Arum looks on. Reuters

Promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren. Reuters

Tyson Fury poses for a photograph with promoters Frank Warren and Bob Arum. Reuters

Tyson Fury and trainer SugarHill Steward with the belts during a press conference. Reuters

Tyson Fury speaks on his phone during a press conference after winning the fight against Deontay Wilder. Reuters

With the dust settled on one of the most epic trilogies in boxing history, the question now is what, or rather who, next for Tyson Fury.

The 33-year-old Englishman had his hand raised for the second time in three fights against Deontay Wilder on Saturday in Las Vegas - after their opening draw - leaving the big-hitting American in a crumbled heap in the 11th round.

It was the third time Wilder had been down in the contest. All the more impressive was Fury's fortitude to climb off the canvas himself - twice in the fourth round - before securing the victory.

Fury, who improved his unbeaten record to 31 wins and one draw, proclaimed himself the "greatest heavyweight of my era" and that he would "beat any man in history".

While the latter is up for debate, the former is much harder to dispute. Fury was already the owner of the greatest performance by a foreign heavyweight on US soil following his seventh-round stoppage to claim the WBC title from Wilder in February 2020. His performance on Saturday night, emphatically answering any remaining doubts as to his ability and courage, topped it.

Fury was evasive about his plans in the post-fight news conference, refusing to say who he wanted to face next.

"Before I start thinking about other men I am going to bask in my victory," he said. His co-promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren were also playing their cards close to their chests.

A fourth instalment with Wilder will hold little appeal, and there are plenty of options out there for Fury.

The one most fight fans (certainly most British ones at least) want to see is a showdown with long-time rival Anthony Joshua.

Oleksandr Usyk after beating Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight title bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on Saturday, September 25, 2021. Getty

Anthony Joshua walks away from the ring after losing to Oleksandr Usyk. AP

Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine celebrates after his unanimous decision victory over Britain's Anthony Joshua. AP

Oleksandr Usyk throws a punch at Anthony Joshua. AP

Anthony Joshua on the defensive against Oleksandr Usyk. AP

Oleksandr Usyk throws a punch at Anthony Joshua. AP

Anthony Joshua before his fight with Oleksandr Usyk. AP

Close up of Anthony Joshua's injuries during a press conference after defeat in the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO title fight agianst Oleksandr Usyk. AP

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates after the fight. Getty

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates after being crowned the new heavyweight world champion. Getty

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates with his team in the ring. Getty

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates. Getty

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates. Getty

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates. Getty

Anthony Joshua following his defeat. Getty

Oleksandr Usyk punches as Anthony Joshua ducks. Getty Images

Oleksandr Usyk throws a punch as Anthony Joshua. Getty

Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua during their title bout. Getty

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk during the fight. Getty

Anthony Joshua after his loss to Oleksandr Usyk. Reuters

Anthony Joshua lands a punch. Getty

Anthony Joshua goes on the attack. Getty Images

Oleksandr Usyk punches Anthony Joshua. Getty

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk during the fight. Getty

A dejected Anthony Joshua walks back to his corner. Getty

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk during the fight. Getty

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk during the fight. Getty

Joshua triggered a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk a day before Fury vs Wilder 3 after surrendering his WBO, WBA (Super) and IBF heavyweight titles to the Ukrainian in London last month.

Usyk systematically dismantled Joshua in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, winning a unanimous decision to become only the third man in history to win titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight.

Joshua will need to make plenty of adjustments if he is to reclaim his belts for a second time when he meets Usyk again, but even without them a fight against Fury holds plenty of appeal, although with less money to be made as a non-unification bout.

"It'd be an ideal world for Anthony Joshua not to go for the rematch so we can just get straight to it," Warren said of a potential blockbuster bout against Britain's two best heavyweights.

But should Joshua bounce back to become a three-time world champion, a fight with Fury will be back on, the biggest showdown in British boxing history.

Tyson Fury makes his entrance to the ring for his heavyweight fight against Otto Wallin at T-Mobile Arena on September 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Tyson Fury makes his entrance to the ring for his heavyweight fight against Otto Wallin at T-Mobile Arena on September 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Otto Wallin makes his entrance to the ring for his heavyweight fight against Tyson Fury at T-Mobile Arena on September 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Tyson Fury overcame horrendous cuts to his right eye to take a unanimous decision over Otto Wallin in a bruising heavyweight encounter in Las Vegas. AFP

Actor Vince Vaughn, left, and director Peter Berg attend the Tyson Fury and Otto Wallin heavyweight bout at T-Mobile Arena. AFP

Tyson Fury is punched during his heavyweight bout against Otto Wallin. AFP

Tyson Fury and Otto Wallin fight during their heavyweight bout at T-Mobile Arena. AFP

Tyson Fury makes his entrance to the ring for his heavyweight fight against Otto Wallin at T-Mobile Arena on September 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Tyson Fury overcame horrendous cuts to his right eye to take a unanimous decision over Otto Wallin in a bruising heavyweight encounter in Las Vegas. AFP

Tyson Fury overcame horrendous cuts to his right eye to take a unanimous decision over Otto Wallin in a bruising heavyweight encounter in Las Vegas. AFP

Tyson Fury reacts after the final bell in his heavy weight fight against Otto Wallin at T-Mobile Arena. AFP

Another victory for Usyk over Joshua, however, would catapult him to the top of the pile. The 34-year-old showed he has the tools to take down much bigger men in boxing's blue ribband division, and a fight against Fury would, from a purists point of view, certainly be the most aesthetically appealing matchup.

With Usyk-Joshua locked in, the next opponent for Fury is most likely to be Dillian Whyte. The Brit faces Otto Wallin on October 30 at London's O2 Arena. Fury will be ordered by the WBC to fight the winner of that meeting straight away if a unification bout cannot be arranged.

Fury says he is open to a fight in the UK having not fought on home soil in three years. A fight against Whyte, therefore, would hold more appeal. The 'Gypsy King' overcame a pair of nasty cuts above his right eye and survived being rocked in a shaky final round to outpoint Wallin via unanimous decision in Las Vegas in 2019.

An outside shot could see Fury face Andy Ruiz Jr. The Mexican shocked the world when he dethroned Joshua in June 2019 with a seventh-round TKO of the previously unbeaten Englishman. He dropped the titles back to Joshua six months later.

Ruiz showed up for the rematch in Saudi Arabia looking like a man who had enjoyed his time in the spotlight a little too much. But he looked leaner and meaner in his comeback win against Chris Arreloa in May, and has also taken former heavyweight champion Tony Parker the distance. He is currently ranked sixth by the WBC.

Andy Ruiz defeated Chris Arreola in his comeback match at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday, May 1, in California. AFP

Andy Ruiz defeated Chris Arreola by unanimous decision at Dignity Health Sports Park in California. AFP

Andy Ruiz defeated Chris Arreola at Dignity Health Sports Park. AFP

Andy Ruiz had lost 55 pounds for his comeback after 17 months. He defeated Chris Arreola via unanimous decision. AFP

Andy Ruiz defeated Chris Arreola at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday. AFP

Andy Ruiz takes a punch from Chris Arreola. AFP