After two losses to Oleksandr Usyk, Fury says April fight with Makmudov is the first step toward the Anthony Joshua showdown
Tyson Fury says beating Arslanbek Makhmudovin April could reopen the path to a long-awaited fight with Anthony Joshua. The former heavyweight champion believes a return to winning form would put him back among the division’s biggest fights.
The former heavyweight champion has been out of the ring for more than 15 months after losing twice to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, defeats that ended Fury’s run at the top of the division. Joshua has also struggled to regain his footing after dropping two fights to Usyk and later suffering a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Joshua did return to record a win over Jake Paul, though a serious car accident early this year has kept him away from boxing since.
Fury believes the immediate task is rebuilding momentum, beginning with Makhmudov.
Speaking to Gareth A Davies, Fury said:
“If I can get past Makhmudov, then the world is my oyster. I need to get back to winning ways, then yeah, all these guys really. If I can get back to what I was in my last few fights in ’24, then yeah, I’ll be able to beat all these guys for sure. I’m not that far away, but listen, it takes time, Rome wasn’t built in a day. It takes time to get sharp and match fit.”
Makmudov enters the fight after stopping Dave Allen and remains one of the division’s heavy-handed punchers. The heavyweight has also shared the ring with contenders such as Agit Kabayel, who previously beat him.
A win in April would move Fury back into the heavyweight title conversation and place him near the front of the line for the division’s major fights.