Boxing
Tyson Fury calls on Makhmudov to conclude a business deal
There’s no bad blood, no mounting tension, and no attempt to sell it as something bigger. Fury made that clear when describing his experience on Saturday night.
“There is no rivalry between me and Arslanbek. There is no animosity. There is nothing. It was never a rivalry,” Tyson Fury told Queensberry about why he is fighting Makhmudov. “Strictly business.”
The “it’s just business” line is the best shield in boxing. When a fighter uses this phrase, he or she is essentially trying to remove the burden of entertainment value from the conversation.
Looking at it this way, Fury is trying to sidestep some specific criticisms and pressures. By calling it a “trade” he signals that he is in it for the paycheck and the activity.
It serves as a subtle defense against soft-touch storytelling. It’s his way of saying, “I know you wanted a blockbuster, but this deal was on the table and I’m here to complete it.”
“It’s just a business transaction,” Fury said.
Whether or not this is a inexpensive excuse depends on how you currently view the heavyweight landscape. Fans who feel that Fury is “avoiding” certain opponents or causing the division to stagnate will likely see this as a way to tune out the fight.
“There’s no need to call bullshit on someone who isn’t very good at English and who can’t answer,” Fury said. “All this requires a dance partner, and Arslanbek is not that kind of person.”
If former heavyweight king Fury were to shout at and belittle a man who barely speaks the language but is clearly the “B-side” of the promotion, it would look less like a promotion and more like a punch. Fury knows that bullshit requires a certain type of opponent to work. Without it he just looks mean.
“It doesn’t change. It’s just business as usual,” Fury said. “Any man that comes there to fight me tonight is a challenge,” Fury said. “I have to treat everyone exactly the same.”
For Fury, it’s a career-boosting mission. By calling it “business as usual,” he tries to create an air of control, but the numbers tell a much more desperate story.
At 37 years senior, turning 38 this year and ending a 16-month hiatus, Fury returns to the ring with a record that has deteriorated. If Makhmudov causes chaos at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night, the ‘Gypsy King’ era will officially come to an end with a whimper.
Technically, a defeat would be his third in a row after losses to Usyk in 2024. Considering Ngannou’s performance, which many fans considered a moral failure, he hasn’t looked like a world-class operator since the beginning of 2023.
Fury has always carried extra weight, but in the second fight with Usyk he looked tired and lacked the elite footwork that once allowed him to dance around giants.
The only reason this fight is on Netflix is to get a payday with Anthony Joshua. Losing to an opponent ranked 15th completely destroys this advantage.
By calling it “business as usual” and claiming he treats everyone the same, Fury tries to sound professional, but it could easily be read as denial.
There’s something sorrowful about a former undisputed tier champion fighting a “B-side” on a streaming platform just to prove he still belongs in that organization. If he fights Makhmudov, a fighter Fury himself described as “clunky” and “ponderous,” it won’t matter whether he wins or loses. The “company” will be viewed as bankrupt.
Fury tries to avoid the desperation narrative by acting like he’s just taking turns. But when an athlete with a father’s body and a losing streak starts talking about “business,” it usually means that the fire in the sport has been replaced by the need for control.
The WBO champion quickly accepted a fight with Davis after the challenger rose to the top of the rankings
Devin Haney wasted no time reacting after Keyshawn Davis was elevated to No. 1 in the WBO welterweight rankings. The champion publicly welcomed the matchup, posting a low message on social media shortly after the updated rankings were released.
Let’s do it KEYSHAWN.. https://t.co/plq9hqQpBP
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) June 3, 2026
This is absolute theater and to look at it like everything else is to succumb to the promotional machine. The moment the WBO rankings dropped and Keyshawn took the No. 1 spot, Haney knew the clock was ticking.
Had he remained still or tried to minimize Keyshawn’s 147-pound inexperience, the boxing world would have immediately labeled him a shirker. By jumping on X and immediately matching the energy, he completely obfuscates this narrative. He begins to look like a fearless champion who is ready for everyone, knowing full well that posting on social media doesn’t cost a penny or require a contract.
The reality of the situation suggests that this is a calculated public relations move rather than a genuine desire for several different reasons:
- Financial reality: Haney always strives for the highest possible bottom line. While the Keyshawn fight is in high demand among die-hard fans, it doesn’t compare to the massive payday of a potential rematch with Ryan Garcia or the other blockbuster pay-per-view opportunities that are likely at the top of his wish list.
- Mandatory timeline cushion: Haney knows how bodywork mechanisms turn. Even with the WBO expected to order a mandatory challenge this summer, negotiations, price offers and promotional extensions could add months to the schedule. He has plenty of time to consider other options before the real pressure comes.
- Risk versus reward: Fighting a adolescent, hungry and highly skilled fighter like Keyshawn, who has never even fought at welterweight, is a hazardous proposition in a title defense when there are much more lucrative, established names on the market.
Haney’s quick response was a great defensive move outside the ring to protect his brand. He gave fans an exhilarating quote they wanted to see, but when it comes to actual network deals, promotional arrangements and guarantees, the energy will likely change. On social media it’s uncomplicated to say “Let’s do this”; it’s a completely different story when the contract is sitting on your desk.
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Last updated: 2026/06/03 at 1:58
Boxing
Former footballers’ boxing event, supported by Tony Bellew and David Price, raised £73,500 for charity
The response was immediate.
One fan accused Stevenson of talking about major fights without taking steps to make them happen.
“The fuck is when are you??? You ran to Zuffa to avoid Shock??? You didn’t want to smoke with Devin, if you’re waiting for the right moment it makes sense if you fight, now you’re trying so tough to keep it 0,” the critic wrote.
Shakur either really doesn’t get it yet or is trying to masterfully do public relations damage control to keep his name among the division’s elite.
If Dana White runs Zuffa Boxing by the UFC playbook, the league format completely changes the game. In this world, you don’t call on top-level players or Matchroom players because you’re locked in a closed ecosystem. The UFC does not partner with Bellator or PFL to stage superfights, and they have no intention of sending their prized fighters to fight on a rival network under a different promotional banner.
If Shakur really thinks he can just pocket a huge salary at Zuffa and still easily land Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney, or Teofimo Lopez, he’s in for a rude awakening. The promotional walls are bulky, and Dana White is not known for playing well with classic boxing promoters.
At this point, Shakur still speaks like an independent performer who can dictate his own path. But if Zuffa is building a league, it has simply traded that independence for a corporate structure. He may find himself trapped in a gilded cage completely isolated from the struggles that he claims define the legacy.
If the UFC model is the plan, it guarantees financial security but risks complete isolation from the wider boxing world. By the time he finishes his tour of duty and realizes that mass promotion fights will be off the table forever, the physical attributes that made him a four-division champion may already be gone.
Devin Haney responds after Keyshawn Davis moves to No. 1 in the WBO welterweight rankings
Former footballers’ boxing event, supported by Tony Bellew and David Price, raised £73,500 for charity
Shakur Stevenson may not be seeing the real problem
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