Tyson Fury Cruises Past Makhmudov in a Near-Shutout, Then Calls Out Anthony Joshua From the Ring at Tottenham
Tyson Fury is back. And if his post-fight performance was any indication, the comeback was never just about shaking off rust — it was always about what comes next.
Fury (35-2-1, 24 KOs) returned from a 16-month layoff and his fifth retirement to dominate Arslanbek Makhmudov over 12 lopsided rounds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night, winning a unanimous decision by scores of 120-108, 120-108, and 119-109. One judge gave Makhmudov a single round. The other two gave him none. In front of approximately 60,000 fans and a live Netflix broadcast — the first British boxing event on the platform — Fury showed he still has the footwork, timing, and ring IQ that made him one of the best heavyweights of his generation.
From the opening bell, the fight played out exactly as expected. Makhmudov (18-3, 18 KOs) walked forward throwing wild power shots with no setup, and Fury slipped, jabbed, and moved his way to easy rounds. Fury’s jab was sharp all night, and he mixed in uppercuts and body work whenever Makhmudov leaned in too close. By round eight, Fury hurt Makhmudov with a hard left hand that had the Canadian-based fighter wobbling, but Fury never pushed for the stoppage. He later said the 12 rounds of work were the point.
“You know, 16 months out is not a short time,” Fury said afterward. “I got back to my slipping and sliding. I got a sharp 12 rounds in there.” He was content to box, stay safe, and bank rounds — a mature performance from a 37-year-old who didn’t need to prove he could knock someone out, just that he could still compete at a high level for a full championship fight.
Makhmudov, who had previously been stopped by Agit Kabayel and Guido Vianello, was never in serious danger of being finished but was also never competitive. He survived 12 rounds by being durable, not by being good. The CompuBox numbers painted the picture: Fury consistently out-landed Makhmudov in every round, and the Russian’s punch accuracy was abysmal against Fury’s movement.
Then came the moment the crowd had been waiting for. Fury grabbed the microphone and turned his attention to the man sitting in the front row.
“16 months out and we fill up Tottenham again,” Fury bellowed. “Like I said, let me get Arslanbek Makhmudov out of the way. Next, I want to give you the fight we’ve all been waiting for. I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua. Let’s give the fans what they want — the Battle of Britain. Here’s my challenge. I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me, The Gypsy King, next. Do you accept my challenge?”
Joshua, seated ringside, didn’t back down — but he didn’t exactly say yes, either. The 36-year-old stepped to the Netflix cameras and delivered a response that was equal parts confident and cautious.
“Tyson, you’re a clout chaser,” Joshua said. “I’ve never had a problem getting in the ring with you. I punched you up when we were kids. After watching you in the ring tonight, I’ll punch you up again. All due respect, tonight is your night.” Then he paused. “I’ve been chasing you for 10 years. When you’re ready, you come and see me and tell me your terms and conditions. I’ll have you in the ring when I’m good and ready. I’m the boss, I’m the landlord — you work for me.”
The exchange was electric, but Joshua also struck a more serious tone when speaking directly to Netflix moments later. “I’ll be completely honest. There are negotiations happening. In my heart, I’d fight Tyson Fury tomorrow. Contracts are what we need. You’ll likely see us in the ring next. I’m not just seeking clout — I wanted to observe the fight, and now I know what I need to do when I get in the ring.”
It was a masterclass in saying everything and nothing at the same time. Joshua clearly wants the fight. He also clearly isn’t ready to commit on Fury’s timeline — and for good reason. The 36-year-old hasn’t had a real fight since August 2024, he was involved in a devastating car crash in Nigeria in December that killed two of his closest friends and trainers, and he’s been dealing with the fallout from that tragedy for the past four months. Rushing into the biggest fight of his life under those circumstances would be reckless, no matter how loud the crowd gets.
The crowd ate it up. The fight that’s been 10 years in the making finally feels like it has momentum. Whether they meet in Dublin this fall — as promoter Kalle Sauerland has claimed is a “done deal” — or somewhere else, Saturday night was the launching pad. Fury looked good enough to be competitive. Joshua looked motivated enough to finally stop talking and start signing.
