Fury has not been in the ring since December 2024, when he lost his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. At 37, such a long break is a physical challenge for him to come back to.
By talking about Joshua, he is trying to convince the world, and perhaps himself, that Usyk’s losses were accidental and that his status as king remained intact.
Fury has fallen 8 times in his career. In the second fight with Usyk, his legs looked massive and relying on the clinch, his favored survival tactic, might not have worked against a man of Makhmudov’s raw physical strength.
“It’s been a fierce competition for over 10 years. The British public still wants it. They still desperately want it,” Fury told InsideRingShow.
“Even if we had a 200,000-seat stadium, we would sell it out 10 times. That’s how much it is here. I think I could beat him at any time, whether he was 25, 35 or 95.”
Fury no longer sells his fight with Joshua as the pinnacle of sporting competition, but as a historic rivalry that exists outside of time.
Tyson’s claim that age is not vital is a clever way to sidestep the fact that both he and Joshua are in the twilight of their careers. By saying he would win at any age, he argues that his boxing IQ and natural height are lasting advantages that Joshua’s athleticism cannot overcome.
“If everything goes well for this fight on Saturday night, that’s the fight we want to fight next,” Fury said.
Fury, using the word “if” in reference to Saturday night, is as sincere as he has been in years. Arslanbek Makhmudov is a risky choice to return for several reasons: Makhmudov is a heavy-handed power puncher with 19 KOs. Fury’s beard has been tested many times, and at the age of 37, his recovery time in the ring is slowing.
Fury hasn’t fought since December 2024. Coming back after a long break against a devastating ball-player like Makhmudov is a huge risk.
If Tyson loses, the fight with Joshua and the 200,000-seat sellout he dreamed of will actually disappear. This would turn their fight into a battle of the kings of elderly.
“It’s always going to be, even though we’re 60 years elderly, I think it’s still a huge fight in the UK,” Fury said.
Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most vital fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.