Tyson Fury completed the first stage of his latest comeback with a unanimous points win over Arslanbek Makhmudov in Riyadh on Saturday night. The former world heavyweight champion, now 37, outclassed the Russian from Dagestan in a near shutout over 12 rounds, with two judges scoring it 120-108 and the third 119-109.
Fury, who has retired five times previously, showed superior speed and accuracy against the lumbering Makhmudov, who had stopped 17 of his previous 21 opponents inside three rounds. However, the chasm in class was evident from the second round, as Fury controlled the fight behind his jab and landed crisp combinations.
After the result was confirmed, Fury turned to Anthony Joshua, who was watching at ringside, and demanded they meet next. Joshua initially hesitated, citing his recovery from a car accident in Nigeria that killed two close friends in December, but eventually conceded that contracts are being sent and they will likely fight next.
Fury's ring walk included a tribute to the late Ricky Hatton, the Manchester fighter who died in September, with 'Blue Moon' playing as Fury appeared with tears in his eyes. The fight itself was described as leaden, with Fury cruising through rounds against a tough but limited opponent, landing uppercuts in the seventh and tenth rounds but failing to secure a stoppage.
Before the fight, Turki al-Sheikh, the Saudi boxing powerbroker, promised a big surprise and the biggest fight in English history, with Joshua seated nearby. However, Joshua's lukewarm response took some heat out of the occasion.
