Tyson Fury has been told by a fellow heavyweight contender that he could encounter a tougher-than-expected night’s work against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
The pair will square off at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, with Fury entering his first outing since suffering back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.
Their first encounter saw Fury get off to a strong start, only to find himself on the brink of a ninth-round stoppage before ultimately losing a split decision.
A more consistent display from ‘The Gypsy King’ then made for a far less dramatic rematch, resulting in Usyk claiming a clear unanimous decision victory.
After that, it came as a mini surprise when Fury announced his retirement the following month, only to declare at the beginning of this year that he will return to a professional ring.
Indeed, the 37-year-old is now gearing up to face Makhmudov, whose only two defeats came via stoppages against Agit Kabayel and Guido Vianello.
The 36-year-old heavyweight is, however, coming off a dominant display against Dave Allen, who he comfortably outpointed by unanimous decision last October.
It is Makhmudov’s 6ft 6in frame, though, that has inspired American heavyweight star Jarrell Miller to assess the Russian’s chances against Fury in an interview with NewBettingOffers.
“Anybody who’s a little taller for Tyson gives him a little problem, if you watch history. The thing is, will Makhmudov’s chin hold up, and will he be a little aggressive?
“If Makhmudov can be aggressive, use a little head movement, and come forward, I think he can give Tyson a lot of problems. I think Tyson still pulls through, but I don’t think it’s an easy fight like everybody thinks it is.
“The guy can crack and he does have some meanness in him. Let’s see how long he stands up.”
Makhmudov boasts a similar height to the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, who Fury convincingly outpointed in 2015, and Deontay Wilder, who floored the Brit four times but never defeated him across their three encounters.