Fury calls out Joshua after points victory over Makhmudov

There’s nothing more predictable than a boxer retiring for the umpteenth time only to step back into the ring. So it’s no shock to see Tyson Fury back again, talking a good game about getting his world-title belts back.

The former heavyweight champion is back and set to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening. And, it’s no surprise to hear him being optimistic.

“Whoever has the belts I want to get them back. I was undefeated for 17 years and took it for granted,” he said at Friday’s weigh-in in London.

“I had two losses in a row and I’m not the hunted now but I’m the hunter. It feels great to be the young, fresh hunter again.

“I want to make a statement, so I’ve come in nice and light and lean.”

The defeats he talks about are the back-to-back loses against Oleksandr Usyk, both in 2024. Before then he was unbeaten and he says a decent time in the sun in Thailand was all he needed to get back to thinking about boxing again.

“I was feeling so good I thought I’m just going to go into camp over here [in Thailand], train over here and get a fight. And that’s exactly what I did. I had zero intentions of making a comeback when I came here in December, none, I was happily retired,” Fury said of his time in south-east Asia.

“And then the sunshine, a bit of training and one thing led to another and next thing I’ve signed a massive contract.

“The next thing it’s at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the world’s going to watch it.”

The record of Fury’s Russian opponent is 21-2, with 19 of his wins coming by way of knockout. His most recent bout was against David Allen in October 2025.

Stay here for all the big-fight action  and best of the undercard, with the ring walks expected just gone 10pm.