Tyson Fury's Comeback Opponent Films Himself Wrestling Bear in Extreme Training Session
Arslanbek Makhmudov, the Russian heavyweight boxer set to face Tyson Fury in a highly anticipated comeback fight, has been captured on video engaging in one of the most extreme training methods imaginable: wrestling a live brown bear. The footage, which has gone viral across social media platforms, shows Makhmudov grappling with the enormous animal as part of his preparation for the bout scheduled for April 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Makhmudov's Bear Wrestling History and Mental Preparation
This is not the first time the 36-year-old Makhmudov, who boasts a formidable 21-2 record with a knockout ratio exceeding 90 percent, has incorporated bear wrestling into his fight camp. He previously engaged in similar activity before his victory over David Allen in August, which secured him the WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight championship title. In an interview with WorldBoxingNews last September, Makhmudov explained his reasoning behind the dangerous practice.
"It started with a friend asking me if I wanted to wrestle a bear, and I said, 'Of course,'" Makhmudov revealed. "It was very scary, for sure. It's an animal, so it's literally wild, but I took it as a test because I always like to be challenged. I think most of the reaction was positive. Of course, some people didn't understand why I did that. But I like I said, for me, it was like a test. Not just physically, but also mentally."
However, the Canadian-based fighter has since promised his mother that this will be the final occasion he wrestles a bear before a fight, citing the inherent dangers involved. "I promised my mother not to do wrestling with bears. Because you have to understand this is very dangerous," he stated earlier this month.
Detailed Description of the Viral Training Footage
The recently circulated video depicts a dramatic scene where Makhmudov confronts a brown bear described as standing three meters tall and weighing approximately 400 kilograms. In the clip, the bear attempts to lock its jaw onto Makhmudov's arm, prompting the boxer to wrestle with the animal. The bear then rises onto its haunches before Makhmudov maneuvers it into a headlock, followed by what can only be described as an aptly named bear hug.
Makhmudov shared the clip on his Instagram page this past Saturday, accompanied by a caption that read: "3 meter tall and 400kg weight MONSTR! Many people think he's probably crazy since he's fighting a bear?! Yes, it's crazy, I agree! But even madness is justified when you pursue good goals, and the goal was to overcome the threshold of fear and learn to control yourself in critical situations! PS if someone thinks it's easy, I can send you the location, let them try it! But I'm not responsible for it anymore."
Tyson Fury's Comeback and Unconventional Approach
Meanwhile, Tyson Fury, 37, is preparing to emerge from his fifth spell of retirement, which began after his second consecutive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024. The British boxing icon, known as 'The Gypsy King,' has confirmed that he will enter this comeback fight without a trainer, marking a significant departure from his previous preparations.
"I don't need a trainer, I don't need a nutritionist, I don't need a mind coach, I don't need a sleep coach and I definitely don't need a strength coach," Fury declared in an interview with BBC 5 Live. "Here's what I need in boxing - someone to wash my gumshield out and give me some water between rounds, and give me a smear of Vaseline across the eyes, and leave the rest to me. (I've got a) PhD in boxing."
Fury, who holds a record of 34 wins in 37 fights with one draw, has attributed his decision to return to the ring partly to the tragic news surrounding fellow boxer Anthony Joshua. "The biggest turning point in this comeback for me was the tragedy that happened with Anthony Joshua," Fury explained earlier this month. "I hear all that bad news that's gone on and I thought, you know what, life is very short, very precious and very fragile. Tomorrow is a mystery, we have to live for today. And me living for that day, I made my mind up there and then that I'm going to come back to boxing - because it's something that I love, I'm passionate about and that I've always been in love with."
Despite concerns about ticket sales for the April event, Fury remains confident, acknowledging that his 16-month inactivity "is a massive factor" but expressing optimism about the fight's appeal. The bout promises to be a clash of contrasting styles and preparation methods, with Makhmudov's extreme bear wrestling facing off against Fury's self-proclaimed expertise and untrained approach.
