Tyson Fury Triumphs in Comeback Bout with Anthony Joshua Observing
Tyson Fury made a successful return to the boxing ring after a 16-month absence, securing a unanimous decision victory over the formidable Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov. The highly anticipated comeback fight took place with Fury's long-time rival, Anthony Joshua, watching intently from ringside, adding significant intrigue to the evening's proceedings.
A Laboured Performance Despite Dominance
Fury, the former two-time heavyweight world champion, looked far from his peak condition throughout the contest, although he controlled the pace and action from the opening bell. Despite his dominance, he rarely had Makhmudov in serious trouble, ultimately settling for a points victory that was awarded by all three judges. The official scores were 120-108, 120-108, and 119-109 in Fury's favour.
In a touching tribute, Fury paid homage to fellow British boxing legend Ricky Hatton during his ring walk, wearing gloves and shorts emblazoned with Hatton's name. Makhmudov, known for his fast starts, landed the first significant punch of the fight—a right hand—within the opening thirty seconds. Fury responded slowly, gradually establishing his jab as the round progressed.
Fury Gradually Finds His Rhythm
The second round saw a more assertive Fury begin to read Makhmudov's predictable movements. A well-timed uppercut followed by a sharp right hook towards the end of the session energised the 50,000-strong crowd. However, Fury remained far from his fluent best, focusing on nullifying the threat posed by his Russian opponent.
Makhmudov reminded Fury of his power early in the fourth round with a stinging left hand, and later connected with a hook from the same hand. Fury retaliated with a right of his own, maintaining his control over the bout. By the fifth round, the crowd grew restless as the heavyweights engaged in frequent clinches rather than trading punches.
Late Rounds and a Clear Decision
As the fight reached its midway point, Makhmudov appeared one-dimensional, allowing Fury to toy with him strategically. In the seventh round, Fury absorbed a clean right hand after landing an uppercut of his own. He continued to find success with that shot in the eighth, momentarily stunning Makhmudov with a left hand.
By the tenth round, Makhmudov looked exhausted and was content to hold on, while Fury, though in clear control, still seemed a shadow of his former self. Fury landed a crisp left-right combination at the bell, but the outcome was already destined for the judges' scorecards. In the penultimate round, Fury targeted Makhmudov's body, a strategy he had employed throughout the night, and dominated the final stanza despite shipping an early right hand.
Undercard Action Highlights
Earlier in the evening, Conor Benn returned to the ring with a points victory over Regis Prograis. Benn's comeback followed his surprising split from promoter Eddie Hearn, who was ringside, to join Dana White's Zuffa Boxing in a lucrative £10 million one-fight deal. Benn wobbled Prograis at the end of the first round, with the American appearing to carry a leg injury amid pre-fight speculation about a potential withdrawal.
Benn, fighting at the same venue as his two bouts against Chris Eubank Jr last year, faced pressure in the middle rounds and suffered cuts over both eyes from headbutts. Prograis, a former two-time world champion, survived a tough seventh round to hear the final bell, but all three judges awarded the fight to a somewhat unconvincing Benn.
In other action, Richard Riakporhe ended Jeamie TKV's five-month reign as British heavyweight champion. TKV, who won the belt by defeating Frazer Clarke last November, was dropped in the fifth round by the former cruiserweight Riakporhe. Although TKV beat the count, the fight was stopped when he came under another barrage of shots.
Additionally, Justis Huni secured a narrow majority decision win over Frazer Clarke, bouncing back from a defeat by Fabio Wardley last summer. Huni dominated the early rounds before Clarke rocked him with an uppercut in the fourth. Clarke capitalised to edge back into the contest, but Huni ultimately prevailed on the scorecards.
