Tyson Fury delivered a commanding return to the ring on Saturday night, shaking off 16 months of inactivity to secure a unanimous points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and immediately calling out longtime rival Anthony Joshua for a long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown.
The judges scored the bout 120-108, 120-108 and 119-109 in favor of Tyson Fury, who controlled the contest with trademark movement, sharp jab work, and ring IQ, even if the performance lacked the explosive finish many expected from his comeback.
Fury, 37, who entered the bout following a 16-month break and back-to-back points defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in previous world title fights, looked composed from the opening bell. Fighting in front of a crowd of approximately 60,000, he boxed patiently behind his jab and used footwork to dictate distance against a naturally aggressive but limited opponent.
Makhmudov, who entered with a strong knockout reputation but defensive vulnerabilities, attempted to pressure Fury early, marching forward with heavy but often wide punches. However, those attacks frequently left openings that Fury exploited with crisp counters.
Despite some moments of success for the Russian-Montreal-based heavyweight, Fury’s timing and accuracy steadily took control of the fight.
Arslanbek Makhmudov came out aggressively, trying to disrupt Fury’s rhythm with forward pressure and looping right hands. He landed a few clean shots, including a heavy left hook in the fourth round that briefly increased his confidence.
However, Fury responded by tightening his defense and gradually taking over with his jab. By the middle rounds, Fury was landing combinations at range while avoiding sustained exchanges.
Makhmudov’s persistence kept him dangerous, and he managed to land two solid right hands in the seventh round. Still, his defensive lapses and tendency to overcommit left him open repeatedly to counterpunching.
As the fight progressed, Fury’s control became more pronounced. In the eighth round, he stunned Makhmudov with a sharp left hook, and followed it up in the ninth with a clean left uppercut that further swung momentum in his favor.
By rounds 10 and 11, Fury was comfortably dictating the pace, mixing feints, jabs, and uppercuts while rarely being forced into uncomfortable exchanges. In the final round, he continued to land clean shots but lacked the finishing power to force a stoppage.
Even so, the performance reinforced that Fury’s ring craft remains elite despite his time away.
Joshua called out as Wembley or Dublin fight looms. After the fight, Fury turned his attention immediately to Anthony Joshua, calling for the long-discussed clash between the two British heavyweights. Joshua was present ringside at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, observing a potential future opponent who now appears firmly focused on making the fight happen.
The matchup between Fury and Joshua has been discussed for nearly six years without materializing, despite multiple attempts to finalize terms. At various points, negotiations have broken down due to timing, injuries, and competing commitments.
Reports have also suggested that major venues, including Dublin’s Croke Park, could host the bout if it takes place in late summer or autumn 2026. There has even been speculation around streaming giants and promoters pushing for it to become one of the biggest global boxing events of the year.
However, Joshua has yet to formally confirm his next move, with suggestions he may take a warm-up bout before stepping into the ring with Fury.
Anthony Joshua enters the conversation with a mixed recent record. His last recognized heavyweight victory came against Otto Wallin in December 2023, followed by a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois for the IBF title in September 2024. More recently, he has remained active in exhibition-style bouts, including a knockout win over Jake Paul in December, though that result has done little to clarify his standing among elite contenders.
Wilder, Ngannou, and the heavyweight picture. Fury’s post-fight comments also dismissed talk of facing Deontay Wilder next, despite Wilder’s recent points win over Derek Chisora, who himself is now firmly in the veteran stage of his career.
Meanwhile, the heavyweight division continues to evolve, with crossover names like Francis Ngannou and influencer-boxers such as Jake Paul having already shared the ring with elite-level opposition, further blurring the lines between traditional boxing hierarchy and spectacle fights.
While not a vintage knockout display, Fury’s performance demonstrated that his fundamentals—jab control, distance management, and defensive awareness—remain intact. Working under trainer SugarHill Steward, Fury looked comfortable pacing the fight and conserving energy, a strategy that paid dividends over 12 rounds.
The former two-time world champion, who also enjoyed a memorable reign beginning in 2015, once again showed he can control a heavyweight fight without relying on brute force.
Even with moments of danger from Makhmudov, Fury’s ability to adjust mid-fight and shut down momentum swings was decisive.
With the win, Fury positions himself for what could be the defining heavyweight fight of 2026 against Joshua. Whether it happens in the summer or later in the year, the demand for the matchup remains enormous.
If Saturday night was indeed a tune-up for that long-awaited showdown, Fury passed the test convincingly—reasserting himself as one of the most skilled heavyweights of his era and reminding the boxing world why the fight with Joshua still carries massive global appeal.
