Fury beats Makhmudov, seeks Joshua fight

LONDON — Tyson Fury returned to the ring with a dominant unanimous decision win over Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday, then immediately pushed for a long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua.

The former heavyweight world champion outclassed the Russian over 12 rounds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, controlling the second half of the contest after surviving early pressure.

The bout marked Fury’s first fight since his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk in October 2024, when he failed to reclaim the WBC title he had lost to the Ukrainian in the first defeat of his career the year before.

With Joshua watching from ringside, Fury weathered an aggressive opening from Makhmudov, who had moments of success by charging forward and forcing the Briton onto the ropes.

Makhmudov, 36, was able to unsettle Fury in the early rounds, but he struggled to land the kind of punches that could seriously trouble the former champion.

Once Fury, 37, established his jab and began controlling the distance, the fight shifted decisively in his favor.

Fury then started switching stances, bobbing and weaving, and looking to catch Makhmudov with uppercuts.

Whenever Makhmudov moved into the clinch, Fury punished him with heavy shots to the body and head.

As the Russian began to tire, Fury took over the later rounds by picking his punches carefully and rarely putting himself in danger.

All three judges scored the fight for Fury, with two handing him 120-108 cards and one scoring it 119-109.

The comprehensive points win could reset Fury’s position in the heavyweight division after back-to-back defeats to Usyk and reignite talks over a blockbuster fight with Joshua.

Moments after the decision, Fury grabbed the microphone and called out Joshua for what would likely rank among the biggest fights in British boxing history.

“Next, I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for. I want you AJ, Anthony Joshua, let’s give the fight fans what they want, the Battle of Britain. And here’s my challenge. I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me, the Gypsy King, next – do you accept my challenge?” he bellowed.

Joshua, also 36, declined to match Fury’s theatrics but said he remained open to the fight if negotiations can be completed.

“Tyson, I’ve never had a problem getting in the ring with you,” Joshua said.

“I’ll stand across that ring from you in due time. You ain’t going to tell me what to do. I’ve been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you’re ready, you come and see me and tell me your terms and conditions, and I’ll have you in the ring when I’m ready.”

Joshua’s response stopped short of confirming a deal, but it kept alive one of the most discussed matchups in modern heavyweight boxing.

For Fury, the win over Makhmudov offered both a successful comeback and a platform to demand the fight many fans have wanted for years.