Boxing
Arslanbek Makhmudov: from fighting bears to fighting Tyson Fury
Published
3 months agoon
Author: Sean Crose
Many people were undoubtedly shocked when Arslanbek Makhmudov literally lifted Tyson Fury into the air while both men argued at a press conference on Thursday. Fury laughed it off, but it only confirmed that Makhmudov was not intimidated. Intimidation is something Fury is quite good at. Take a look at his aggressive behavior before his 2015 heavyweight championship fight against then-defending champion Wladimir Klitschko. Fury didn’t just get into his man’s head… maybe that’s why he won the title. There’s no denying that Klitschko didn’t look like himself that night.
Makhmudov, on the other hand, seems to be a different kind of animal. He’s clearly the underdog heading into this weekend’s fight with Fury at London’s O2 Arena, but it’s doubtful the 6-foot-6 Russian will bow under the balmy lights. After all, he had faced earnest challenges before. The 21-2 fighter literally fought a bear. If you don’t believe it, watch it on YouTube. In the clips, this guy is pure Davey Crockett. No wonder he’s not afraid of Fury. “I’m that kind of guy,” Makhmudov said. “Since I was a kid, I was a very little kid and if I had a phobia, I took it as a challenge.”
He faces quite a challenge in Fury. This player’s only defeats came on the hands of the legendary Oleksandr Usyk. Moreover, Fury has 34 wins and a draw (in the first fight with Wilder). Moreover, Fury has different aspects to his skill set. In the match against Klitschko, this man was surprisingly slippery to hit. In Wilder’s second fight, which Fury won by stoppage, the guy became a destructive and aggressive force. Unlike the bear, Fury can adapt to what is happening in the ring.
Makhmudov may not be able to reach into his bag of tricks and pull out a up-to-date style, but he has ponderous hands and a perilous, outgoing style that can wear down a guy like Fury. If durability becomes an issue for Fury at the age of 37, he could find himself in earnest trouble. Still, it’s strenuous to see Makhmudov as having a great performance on Saturday – although he’ll certainly have his moments. He has ponderous feet and his punches, while powerful, are not delivered at a lightning-fast pace. Fury has faced ponderous punches before, perhaps with the hardest punch in the history of the sport (I have yet to find a fighter who punches or punches as strenuous as Wilder).
However, Makhmudov is undoubtedly aware that time waits for no one. I still remember Fury throwing his youth in Klitschko’s face many years ago. Now he is an older man. He may only be 37 years senior and Makhmudov is 36, but he has had a grueling life at times, both in and out of the ring. Add to that the time spent away from the ring and it is possible that Makhmudov will be able to perform this weekend. It may not be likely, but it would be ridiculous to say it is impossible.
Indeed, Makhmudov believes Fury underestimated him ahead of Saturday’s fight. “For him it’s a warm-up fight,” he said, “but for me it’s everything. I can’t lose my chance.” Tough talk from a tough guy… but fight fans have heard it before. Apart from that, Fury declares that he is focused on the task at hand. “I don’t want to mention names when I have a perilous fighter in front of me,” he quotes the powerful Briton as saying. “The rest can hide, but first I have to keep Makhmudov hidden.” So it all comes down to how well each fighter can perform in the ring in less than 48 hours.
Back to the fight with the bear: Makhmudov explains that the experience was not fun. “You can only understand its power when you are close to it,” he said. “In one second you can become like meat, just meat, just like that.” In a way, you can almost imagine Makhmudov speaking the same way about certain fighters, especially those who roar like Tyson Fury. One thing is certain, however: Makhmudova will not be paralyzed by fear when the opening bell rings in London on Saturday evening.
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Boxing
KO Artist Who Fought Canelo Aims for Chris Eubank Jr Showdown in Boxing News
Published
4 hours agoon
July 31, 2026
Chris Eubank Jr has not fought since his underwhelming rematch with Conor Benn, but the 36-year-old is now being targeted by a fierce knockout artist, who is willing to travel to London for the opportunity to face him.
Eubank scored an iconic win over Benn last April but when they rematched seven months later, he felt the full effects of a brutal weight cut, narrowly avoiding a stoppage defeat as he survived until the final bell on unsteady legs only to lose a wide unanimous decision.
Since then, the Hove-born contender has been advised to move up in weight and return to the super-middleweight scene, but he has also been linked to a catchweight clash with Michael Zerafa in Australia – a bout which would take place at 164lbs.
New York’s Edgar Berlanga has now thrown his hat into the ring though, after revealing on ‘The Last Stand’ podcast about his intentions to face Eubank before the end of the year.
“I would love to step into the ring to end the year with Chris Eubank Jr. I feel like that fight is going to be a big fight in London.
“I told Keith [Connolly]I said that I would rather not do it out here in America. I would rather go to London, where he is from [U.K.]you know what I am saying? We can make a big, big fight happen. He is on the radar.”
Berlanga’s most high profile fight came back in 2024 when he challenged Canelo Alvarez for his unified super-middleweight crown, suffering a unanimous decision defeat, one of two losses in his career after also coming up short against Hamzah Sheeraz.
He has since signed with Zuffa Boxing and in his debut with the company on Sunday he knocked Steven Butler out after seven rounds, recovering from a second-round knockdown to earn the 19th stoppage victory of his career.
In an interview with The RingBerlanga has now doubled down on his call-out of Eubank, hoping he can convince the Briton to swerve the Zerafa fight in favour of a clash on home soil.
“I’m looking forward to getting a real big fight with Chris Eubank. Let’s do it in London. It’s going to be big.”
Eubank maintains that he is currently a free agentbut it is unclear whether he is still contracted to Boxxer, with promoter Ben Shalom appearing to believe that their deal has not expired.
Boxing
Terence Crawfords Top 5 Fighters of All Time: Three Heavyweight Champions Included
Published
1 day agoon
July 30, 2026
Terence Crawford has cemented himself amongst boxing’s all-time greats with a number of iconic wins and title triumphs. When asked to name his own top five fighters, ‘Bud’ felt three former heavyweight champions have earned their places.
Crawford made history when he dethroned Canelo Alvarez and captured the undisputed super-middleweight world title last September, becoming the first post-war three-weight undisputed titleholder.
Soon after that generational win, the Omaha switch-hitter announced his retirement from the sport, walking away with an astonishing career that consisted of 42 victories and no defeats; considered to be one of the best boxers to have hung up the gloves with an undefeated record.
On The Real Report podcast with Tony Yayo and Uncle MurdaCrawford named only one unbeaten fighter amongst his all-time top five. Instead, the 38-year-old gave props to three former heavyweight world champions: Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones Jr and Joe Louis.
“I got to put [Muhammad] Ali up there. I got to put Sugar Ray Robinson, I got to put Roy Jones Jr. in his prime. I’ve definitely got to put Floyd Mayweather in and I’ll probably put Joe Louis.”
Ali and Louis spent their entire legendary careers competing at heavyweight, while Jones Jr competed in the banner division just once, becoming the first former world middleweight champion to capture world heavyweight gold in over a century.
As for Crawford, despite announcing his decision to retire, he continues to be called out by active fighters, with Ryan Garcia becoming the latest to call for a shot at putting an end to the veteran’s unbeaten streak.
Boxing
James Dean Fury Credits Uncle Peter for Insight Ahead of Professional Boxing Debut
Published
1 day agoon
July 30, 2026
James Dean Fury has always loved boxing, basically since he was born, but it was only when he started training with his uncle, Peter Fury, that he really began to understand the sport.
Given his name, it is hardly surprising that the latest Fury to turn professional has been immersed in boxing for all of his 20 years.
In fact, the super-middleweight prospect tells Boxing News that he struggles to recall a time when he was involved in anything else.
“I’ve been around the sport all my life; was born and bred into it. So my first activity, as a kid, was obviously boxing.
“When I was born, my mum and dad bought me a pair of gloves and a rope – like a little boxing kit for babies – and, when I first walked into the gym, I just fell in love with it. I loved getting punched in the face and punching other people in the face.
“From around seven or eight years old, I knew this was what I wanted to do for a living. I believe God put me on this planet to fight because, when I’m not boxing, there’s nothing else for me to do.”
It is one thing developing a passion for something, like boxing, but learning how to succeed at something is another matter entirely.
Fortunately, James Dean Fury did not have to go searching far and wide for a knowledgeable teacher, yet still he needed to prove worthy of such valuable tutelage.
“When I started training with my uncle Peter at 13 years old, he really opened my eyes and gave me a clear understanding of where I want to go.
“If I sat here and told you everything I’ve learned off my uncle Peter, we’d be here till Christmas.
“But when I was about 14 years old, he tested me. He put me in a trailer [caravan]just to see if I was really dedicated. Then he took me on full-time.”
As a three-time national amateur champion and 2025 Box Cup winner, it is fair to say that James Dean Fury has proved a receptive student.
But now, the young Fury must go one step further and establish himself in the pro ranks, starting with his Boxxer debut on August 8.
Having inked a deal with Ben Shalom’s promotional outfithe will feature on the undercard of Troy Williamson vs Callum Simpson 2, hoping to show fans that he possesses the indigents to win a world title.
“I’ve always been competitive – whether I’m running a race, at a school sports day or playing a board game … I want to win.
“And when it comes to fighting – something I’ve put my whole life into – please, believe me, I will win. I’ve sacrificed everything for this.”
With such competitive spirit, even the attention that comes with his family name does not seem to faze the cousin of a two-time heavyweight champion.
“Whoever you jump in the ring with, they’re going to try and take your head off. No one’s in there to have a dance with me, especially when they hear my name. We’re in the hurt game.”
It might be a cliché, but James Dean clearly does have boxing in his DNA, along with a fierce desire to reach the pinnacle of his sport.
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