Fury v Makhmudov - all you need to know

Media caption,

'I was sick of the boxing game and I needed time away' - Tyson Fury on returning to the ring

  • Published

Tyson Fury returns from retirement to face Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday in a 12-round heavyweight bout in London at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The two-time world champion is back in action after a 15-month absence.

Fury, 37, has his eyes set on a world title shot but has 36-year-old Makhmudov in his way first.

How will Fury look on his return? Can Makhmudov spring an upset?

All you need to know about the fight night is below.

How to follow Fury v Makhmudov on the BBC

Live text commentary will begin at 20:00 BST on Saturday, 11 April on the BBC Sport website and app.

Conor Benn is the co-main event and round-by-round updates will be available for his fight and the headline act.

What time are the ringwalks for Fury v Makhmudov?

The main card is scheduled to start just after 19:00 on Netflix, meaning we expect Fury to make his ringwalk around 22:00, but potentially as early as 21:30.

Benn should fight about 21:00.

Fury v Makhmudov undercard & running order

Tyson Fury v Arslan Makhmudov - heavyweight (22:07)

  • Conor Benn v Regis Prograis - 10st 10lb catchweight (20:55)

  • Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva (champion) v Richard Riakporhe - British heavyweight title (20:02)

  • Frazer Clarke v Justis Huni - heavyweight (19:14)

Prelims:

  • Simon Zachenhuber v Pawel August - middleweight

  • Breyon Gorham v Eduardo Costa - light-welterweight

  • Mikie Tallon v Leonardo Blanc - flyweight

  • Felix Cash v Liam O'Hare - middleweight

  • Hector Lozano v Sultan Almohammed - super-featherweight

  • Elliot Whale v Tom Hill - light-middleweight

Media caption,

'I'm as sharp as I've ever been' - Fury looks ahead to fight with Makhmudov

Fury v Makhmudov fight week schedule

Wednesday: Red carpet arrivals of boxers to kick off fight week from 19:00 BST in London

Thursday:News conference from 18:00 in London

Friday: Weigh-in from 18:00 in London

How do Fury and Makhmudov's records compare?

Despite only being a year apart in age, Fury and Makhmudov's careers have followed very different paths.

Fury claimed the unified heavyweight title in 2015 by beating Wladimir Klitschko and then the WBC world title in 2020 when he beat Deontay Wilder.

The Briton has the better names on his record, having fought Usyk (twice), Derek Chisora (three times) and Dillian Whyte.

Makhmudov has a win over Dave Allen and Carlos Takam but has two losses in his career, to Guido Vianello and Agit Kabayel.

The Russian has stumbled when asked to step up to genuine contender level and was in truth a surprise opponent for Fury considering his lack of star quality and pedigree.

But he does have one advantage and that is activity. While Fury has sat on the sidelines for 15 months, Makhmudov fought twice in 2025 and 2024 and three times in 2023.

Fury is fighting in his 38th contest, while Makhmudov is in his 24th. There are a lot fewer miles on the clock for the away fighter, who has fought 69 rounds compared with Fury's 254.

While he has fought far less impressive opponents, Makhmudov's knockout rate is excellent at 90% while Fury's is 71%.

What belts are on the line in Fury v Makhmudov?

Fury is not fighting for a world title.

His bout with Makhmudov will be over 12 three-minute rounds but no titles up for grabs.

Fury's fight with Francis Ngannou in 2023 wasn't for a world title but other than that he has been involved in world championship fights stretching back to 2020.

In his eight world title fights, Fury has five wins, two losses and one draw.

Media caption,

Garcia good for boxing, but I don't like him - Benn

How many times has Fury retired?

By our count, we are up to five official retirements with Fury. Quite the number.

We have all the retirements in a timeline below.

Who is Fury's coach for Makhmudov fight?

Fury has so far been tight-lipped through fight week about who his trainer is. He maintains he coached himself through his training camp but his most recent coach Sugarhill Steward was present in Thailand and at the news conference on Thursday.

When asked about the coach situation, Fury insisted he was there for "moral support", and he remained vague about the American's involvement when pressed again at Friday's weigh-in.

"He's been overseeing - that's what he does," Fury said.

"Even when he's in Miami he's phoning me and overseeing what I do. We go back to 2009 - probably before that."

Fury's father John Fury is not expected in the corner on Saturday, but it seems Steward will be.

Media caption,

'Sooner or later these world champions are going to have to fight me'

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