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Tyson Fury outclassed Arslanbek Makhmudov before calling out Anthony Joshua, who remained coy at ringside over a potential super-fight next
Alex Pattle at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Sunday 12 April 2026 01:00 BST- Bookmark
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Close popoverTyson Fury launches comeback fight against Arslanbek MakhmudovTyson Fury made his fifth return to boxing on Saturday, in a comfortable points win against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was Fury’s first fight in 16 months, with the Briton having retired (yet again) in the wake of his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk, a points defeat in December 2024.
Fury, 37, believes he can become a world heavyweight champion again, while this win over Makhmudov also moved the Briton closer to a clash with Anthony Joshua – a domestic fight that is still on the cards after almost a decade of links. In fact, Joshua watched on from ringside on Saturday, with Fury calling out his compatriot after beating Makhmudov on all three judges’ scorecards.
On an action-packed undercard Conor Benn outpointed Regis Prograis in a gruelling 10-round contest, while Richard Riakporhe battered Jeamie TKV to win the British heavyweight title.
Re-live updates and see all results from the Fury vs Makhmudov undercard:
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Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov LIVE
- Tyson Fury defeats Arslanbek Makhmudov on points at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Fury calls out Anthony Joshua for long-awaited super-fight, with ‘AJ’ watching from ringside
- Conor Benn outpoints Regis Prograis to move closer to world-title shot
Thoughts from Tottenham on Fury, Makhmudov and AJ
For as slow and one-dimensional as Makhmudov looked, Fury was off the pace as well.
Two-dimensional, sure, with the occasional southpaw switch and the eventual, effective introduction of uppercuts, but not inventive enough to assert himself in the captivating manner of old – or not sprightly enough to act fully on his inventive impulses.
Of course, these faults in Fury could be down to ring rust. Yet they could be down to age and degradation.
The quirk is that this is okay, as long as he is paired with Joshua next.
What Fury vs Joshua has always needed, as a match-up, is a sense of equality, or something close to it. Fury’s current form might just balance out with Joshua’s struggles in and out of the ring.
Alex Pattle12 April 2026 01:00Report: Fury returns with vulnerability and teaches Joshua valuable lesson
Arslanbek Makhmudov recently caught the attention of the boxing world by wrestling a bear in Dagestan. And from the first round on Saturday night, he seemed to realise that wrestling Tyson Fury was a better option than boxing him. Yet on this occasion, that’s no comment on the wizardry that Fury can produce in the ring, but rather on Makhmudov’s flaws. The story of this fight was that, luckily for Fury, those flaws eclipsed the Briton’s own, increasingly apparent faults.
This wasn’t the triumphant return of the “Gypsy King”, see, but an underwhelming – perhaps even concerning – return to the ring from the former world heavyweight champion, as he emerged from his fifth retirement.
Tyson Fury returns with vulnerability and teaches Anthony Joshua a valuable lesson
In Fury’s first fight in 16 months, he outpointed Arslanbek Makhmudov but failed to impress, as Joshua watched on from ringsideAlex Pattle12 April 2026 00:45Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov in photos
Tyson Fury celebrates victory (Getty Images for Netflix)
Fury calling out Anthony Joshua after beating Makhmudov (Getty)
Joshua (right) with Saudi boxing matchmaker Turki Alalshikh (Getty Images for Netflix)Alex Pattle12 April 2026 00:30Fury claims he has signed Joshua fight contract but that ‘AJ’ has not
Interesting stuff at the post-fight press conference...
Tyson Fury claims he has signed Anthony Joshua fight contract but that ‘AJ’ has not
Fury returned after his fifth retirement from boxing, outpointing Arslanbek Makhmudov and calling out ‘AJ’Alex Pattle12 April 2026 00:26Regis Prograis retires after losing to Conor Benn
Prograis has told The Ring that he has retired from boxing, following his loss to Benn this evening.
Alex Pattle12 April 2026 00:16Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov in photos
Fury went the distance with Makhmudov but was always a step or two ahead (Getty)
Fury looked somewhat close to finishing Makhmudov in the final rounds (Getty)
Fury after beating Makhmudov on points (Getty)Alex Pattle12 April 2026 00:00Conor Benn underlines next goal after beating Regis Prograis
"Nobody likes circles, but ultimately we got the job done and keep it moving,” Conor Benn says.
“You keep moving, different challenges, it's my first time against a former two-time world champion, I believe I won every round, I want Ryan Garcia next.
“The WBC belt, he can get it next and twice on Sunday, I'll give it to you."
Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 23:45Tyson Fury calls out Anthony Joshua at ringside
(Bradley Collyer/PA Wire).jpeg)
(Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
(Getty Images for Netflix)Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 23:30Anthony Joshua doubts Tyson Fury can cope with him
“I’m sorting some things out with my brothers; the brotherhood is taking care of things. Tyson Fury, if he’s serious, you’ll see us in the ring. The ball is in his court. We’ve been here a million times, once my signature is on the paper, it’s a fight. There’s no fight right now, I’ve been here three or four times with Wilder and Fury. It’s boring to me, for you at home it’s exciting. I don’t think he’ll be able to cope with me.
“It’d be hard work for him. I don’t want to talk too much.”
Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 23:20Anthony Joshua on fighting Tyson Fury next
“He's the one that retired. I've stayed in the ring, it's on him, he disappears, comes back, disappears. I'm not here to chase fame, I'm a real person. I'll fight him or the next person. I'm in the big fights, I make the big fights, that's what I told him,” Joshua says on Netflix.
“That could be a warm-up fight, after what I saw tonight, I was in a serious incident, so I need to check out. There’s real stuff happening in my life. I’m not ducking anyone. I have to attend to, once I’m 100 percent, I’ll fight. I run the game, you know I run the game. I’m a serious fighter, I’m very strong, when I hit Fury, I’m going to hurt him.”
Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 23:12Newer1 / 4OlderMore about
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