Makhmudov welcomes challenge as Fury targets early finish
Tyson Fury predicted a knockout of Arsalanbek Makhmudov during a February 16 press event in London promoting their April 11 fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Fury said he returned to boxing to “make boxing great again.”
Fury, 34-2-1 with 24 knockouts, entered loose, talking, playing to the room the way he always has. He carried himself like the division still runs through him.
“I came back for one reason only and that’s to make boxing great again,” Fury said. “Since I retired for the fifth time over a year ago, boxing for me has gone on a downward slope. It’s become quite boring and boxing is at its maximum potential when Tyson Fury’s actively fighting….so believe it and I’m coming back to make boxing great again.”
On Makhmudov, 21-2 with 19 knockouts, Fury leaned into the threat. He framed the danger as necessary motivation.
“If I fight a pudding, I don’t get turned on by that. I have to fight somebody dangerous to make me want to even train, make me want to even take it seriously. So now I know I’ve got a dangerous knockout artist in front of me… I’m looking forward to coming here putting on a real show at Tottenham. And most of all, I’m looking forward to punching his face right in.”
He even offered a timetable.
“Probably a big right hand KO….Round six, why not? Sounds like a good even number.”
Fury also tied his return to perspective.
“I was on holiday with my family in Thailand for Christmas just to get away from the rain, and then I hear all that bad news that’s gone on and I thought, you know what? Life is very, very short and very precious and very fragile and anything could happen at any given moment and you should never put things off until tomorrow or next year or next week because tomorrow is not promised to nobody.”
Training base came up as well.
“When I’m in Thailand and I wake up and it’s 30 degrees outside, I’m like, this is awesome. Let me go. Training [in] sunshine is the key. And if you wake up in the rain, you feel shit. And if you wake up in the sunshine you feel happy. And I want to feel happy.”
Makhmudov kept his tone steady. He spoke about long-term belief and opportunity.
“For me it’s dream fight. All my life, I go for my goal. My parents told me… when I was nine years old… you’re going to be champion world. So I just follow my goals and enjoy this time now and enjoy my trip to this goal. I’m looking forward to April 11 to reach my goal.”
On whether Fury might be overlooking him, Makhmudov said:
“I believe when we took a picture almost 10 [years] ago, it was like signal from God for this day going to be happen. One day I going to meet with this guy and beat him. That’s my goal and I believe God prepared this for me.”
As for tactics:
“I don’t know what’s going to happen for the fight, but of course we will prepare for all distances.”
From a boxing standpoint, this comes down to range and discipline. Fury at his best controls distance with the jab, leans his weight in close, and drains a puncher’s gas tank before opening up with straight rights and short uppercuts. Makhmudov is built to close space and throw heavy in tight.
If Fury keeps the fight long and forces resets, the rounds favor the champion. If Makhmudov pins him early and lands clean before Fury establishes rhythm, the atmosphere changes fast.
Date, Venue, Start Time, TV and Live Streaming
Date: April 11
Start Time: 5:00 p.m. UK / 12:00 p.m. ET
Streaming: Netflix
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Fight card: Tyson Fury vs. Arsalanbek Makhmudov
Watch live on: Netflix