Tyson Fury will return to the ring on Saturday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face Russian giant Arslanbek Makhmudov, but the former world champion’s comeback comes as the heavyweight division’s golden era fades. Fury, 37, announced his retirement for the fifth time in January 2025, only to reverse course four months ago with a typical flourish: “Return of the Mac. Been away for a while but I’m back now.”
Fury has lost his last two fights, both to Oleksandr Usyk, while fellow veteran Anthony Joshua was crushed by Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Deontay Wilder won a crude brawl against Derek Chisora last Saturday, prompting Fury to remark: “After watching Chisora and Wilder I thought to myself: ‘I’m not going to be like that, surely, on Saturday night?’ If I am, please take me out to the field and shoot me.”
Fury has spoken openly about his bipolar disorder and says boxing gives him purpose. “It’s everything that I love to do,” he said. But he no longer needs the money, and his chances of dominating again have receded. Makhmudov, a slow but heavy-handed puncher who has been stopped twice before, should not pose a serious test for Fury’s speed and ringcraft.
Usyk remains the exception among the old guard, defending his WBC title against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven next month. Fury has talked of a trilogy with Usyk or a lucrative but less challenging bout against Joshua, but both men are past their best. The more intriguing fight in the division is the WBO title clash between younger contenders Fabio Wardley and Dubois on 9 May.
