Tyson Fury returned from 16 months out to beat Arslanbek Makhmudov by unanimous decision at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night, winning every scorecard (120-108, 119-109, 119-109) in a controlled but ultimately disappointing performance in front of a crowd of approximately 60,000.
Fury did what he needed to do: he outboxed Makhmudov from distance, landed his jab cleanly, worked effectively to the body, and never looked like losing. The gap in class was evident once Fury settled into his rhythm in the early rounds. Makhmudov showed durability and a willingness to hold on the inside to survive, but he was never close to landing the one shot that could have changed the fight.
Analysis of Fury vs Makhmudov Performance
The criticism is fair, though. Fury’s corner urged him to go for the finish in the championship rounds and he declined. Two of Makhmudov’s previous losses came by stoppage — Agit Kabayel and Guido Vianello both stopped him — and many felt Fury should have done the same. The Tottenham crowd fell largely silent as the rounds ticked by without urgency. It was a victory, but not the statement performance Fury needed to re-establish himself as a genuine title contender.
Conor Benn also won on the undercard, outpointing Regis Prograis by unanimous decision (98-92 across all three cards) in the co-main event — another workmanlike points victory that raised more questions than it answered.
What happens next is the story. Anthony Joshua was sitting ringside, and Fury wasted no time. “I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for,” Fury said post-fight, addressing Joshua directly. “I want you, AJ – Anthony Joshua. Let’s give the fight fans what they want — the battle of Britain.” Joshua’s response will come in the next few days, but the fight has been discussed for years and both men now need a marquee bout. From a betting perspective, Fury vs Joshua would be one of the biggest UK heavyweight events in decades.
The betting read: Fury as a Usyk opponent looks significantly less convincing after this. If the Joshua fight happens, Fury starts as favourite given his record and ring IQ — but at 37, with obvious physical decline and ring rust evident, those odds deserve scrutiny. Watch for the first markets to open when the fight is officially announced.
For our pre-fight betting preview including odds analysis and fight breakdown, see our Fury vs Makhmudov Betting Preview.
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