Boxing
Who is Arslanbek Makhmudov? What is worth knowing about Tyson Fury’s opponent
Published
4 months agoon
Tyson Fury’s return to the ring has been confirmed, and the fight between “The Gypsy King” and Arslanbek Makhmudov will take place on April 11.
The fight will take place 15 months after Fury announced his final retirement in January 2025.
The decision followed back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, and while it wasn’t the first time Fury had retired, he remained busy both in the gym and on social media throughout the year.
Now one of boxing’s greatest starts and personalities will return, but who is his opponent Makhmudov and what threat could he pose to Fury?
Who is Arslanbek Makhmudov?
Arslanbek Makhmudov is a Russian heavyweight boxer living in Canada. He fought professionally 23 times, with 21 wins and two losses. 19 of his wins were by knockout.
The 6-foot-5, 36-year-old will be a physical challenge for Fury. It usually reaches a weight of 260 pounds.
Makhmudov became known to a wider audience of British boxing fans last year when he defeated Dave Allen on points in Sheffield.
Who did Makhmudov fight?
Although Makhmudov has a good record (21-2, 19 KO), he has not yet reached the level of a world champion. In December 2023, he failed to defeat WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel, losing by knockout in the 4th round.
However, in addition to his victory over Allen, Makhmudov defeated former Anthony Joshua opponent Carlos Takam.
What chances does Makhmudov have?
As Fury undoubtedly wants to fight for world titles before finally walking away from boxing forever, Makhmudov was chosen as a rather tough but beatable opponent.
Fury cannot afford to lose, and Makhmudov is the perfect opponent who can shake off the ring rust acquired during a year-long exodus before moving on to bigger and better things.
But as always in the heavyweight division, every fighter has a chance. Makhmudov is substantial, forceful and can punch. His 19 knockouts prove this.
Fury is a much better fighter, but if he boxes intelligent, Makhmudov can give Fury a headache or two.
Where could the fight take place?
An official location for the fight has not been announced, but it will take place in the UK and will be streamed on Netflix.
Considering Fury is such a superstar, you’d expect him to fight in a enormous stadium rather than an arena.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where he faced Derek Chisora in his last English fight in 2022, will open on April 11, with Tottenham playing away in the Premier League against Sunderland.
Currently, Tottenham will play at the stadium again only a week after the fight.
Wembley Stadium, where Fury defeated Dillian Whyte in April 2022, has no events scheduled for April 11, but will host an England women’s national team match against Spain on April 14, which could cause logistical problems.
Aged Trafford – the home of Fury’s beloved Manchester United – has hosted boxing matches in the past, but Manchester United will host Leeds United on April 11.
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Boxing
Zuffa Boxing 07 debuts in the UK: Billam-Smith vs. Rozicki preview
Published
1 hour agoon
June 5, 2026
On Saturday, June 6, Zuffa Boxing will host its first event on British soil, when former cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith will face Canadian Ryan Rozicki at the Bournemouth International Centre. The card, billed as Zuffa Boxing 07, airs live Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and streaming on Paramount+ in the United States and Canada. The main card starts at 7 p.m., with walk-ins scheduled for the main event at around 10 p.m.
The event is the first UK edition of Zuffa Boxing, a promotion created by TKO Group Holdings and Saudi entertainment company Sela and run by Dana White, Nick Khan and General Entertainment Authority CEO Turki Alalshikh. according to ESPN. This follows a multi-year broadcasting deal between Zuffa and Sky Sports announced in March.
Main event
Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KO) returns to his hometown for his first fight in over a year. The Bournemouth fighter held the WBO cruiserweight title in 2023 and 2024 before losing it, and has fought at the Bournemouth International Center several times before. He is coached by Shane McGuigan, who stated in promotional materials released for the card that Billam-Smith is constantly improving. Billam-Smith also said a future meeting with cruiserweight champion Zuffa Jai Opetaia influenced his decision to sign with the promotion, telling Sky Sports the fight “will definitely happen.”
Rozicki (21-1-1, 20 KO), of Sydney Forks, Nova Scotia, has one of the highest strike rates on the card. He has been a professional since 2016 and his record since 2016 is 8-0-1 with seven knockouts, with 18 of his stoppages coming within three rounds. The cruiserweight fight is scheduled for 10 rounds.
Cooperation and fight in the heavyweight division
In a 10-round cruiserweight fight, Jack Massey (23-3, 13 KO) will face Chev Clarke (11-2, 8 KO). In the preliminary stage of the gala, the return of two-time Olympic bronze medalist from Kazakhstan Ivan Dychko (15-1, 14 KO) heavyweight against undefeated Briton Harvey Dykes (7-0-1). The 180 cm elevated Dychko is fighting for the first time since his defeat to Jermaine Franklin in September 2025. Dykes turned professional in 2023 after winning super heavyweight gold at the English National Amateur Championships.
British signatures to the bill
The card also features several recent Zuffa signings making their debuts with the organization, including Scotland’s Sam Hickey (4-0, 1 KO), welterweight Alex MacMillan (3-0, 2 KO) and lightweight heavyweight Leon Hughes (4-0, 3 KO). Hickey won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games as an amateur and turned professional under the guidance of Team GB performance director Rob McCracken.
Full card
- Chris Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KO) vs. Ryan Rozicki (21-1-1, 20 KO), cruiserweight, 10 rounds
- Jack Massey (23-3, 13 KO) vs. Chev Clarke (11-2, 8 KO), cruiserweight, 10 rounds
- Lee Cutler (15-2, 7 KO) vs. Aaron Sutton (19-2, 3 KO), middleweight, 10 rounds
- Stevie McKenna (15-1, 14 KO) vs. Casey James Streeter (15-3-2, 6 KO), middleweight, 8 rounds
- Sam Hickey (4-0, 1 KO) vs. Todd Tompkins (4-0), middleweight, 6 rounds
- Harvey Dykes (7-0-1) vs Ivan Dychko (15-1, 14 KO), heavyweight, 10 rounds
- Leon Hughes (4-0, 3 KO) vs. Mario Vergiev (8-4, 5 KO), lightweight heavyweight, 6 rounds
- Alex MacMillan (3-0, 2 KO) vs. Tyler Rivers (6-3), welterweight, 6 rounds
The three-fight preliminary card begins at 5 p.m., with the main card following at 7 p.m.
Boxing
Ryan Garcia wants to train with Naoya Inoue in Tokyo and broadcast it live
Published
3 hours agoon
June 5, 2026
My plan in Tokyo is to do some training with Inoue. That would be great!!!!! And stream it
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) June 5, 2026
The proposed sessions would bring together two world champions from different weight categories. Ryan currently holds the WBC welterweight title and Inoue is the undisputed junior featherweight champion.
A notable part of Ryan’s post was his willingness to stream workouts.
One of the things Ryan mentioned in his X post was his desire to stream workouts. Ryan didn’t say whether he would bring the idea to Naoya to see if he agreed with it or not, nor did he give a date when he would train with the Japanese star.
At this stage, Ryan’s comments appear to reflect purpose rather than final findings. Although he has publicly outlined the plan, Inoue has not announced any potential training session.
If training takes place, they will bring together champions separated by more than 20 pounds in weight. Ryan is fighting in the welterweight division, and Inoue is building his championship streak in the junior featherweight division.
The idea remains one Ryan hopes to implement during his visit to Tokyo, with the added possibility of giving fans a glimpse of the session via livestream.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Boxing
Tyson Fury ‘very interested’ in fighting ‘one of the most avoided heavyweights’: ‘Let’s do it’
Published
5 hours agoon
June 5, 2026
Tyson Fury is set to take part in the long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua, but first he needs a warm-up. Now another challenger has been added to the fight, and Fury is “very interested” in the proposed fight.
The long-awaited clash between Fury and Joshua has finally been signed and will take place pending success in their tune-up fights. While Joshua is scheduled to face Kristian Prenga next month, Fury remains without an opponent for his August outing.
Promoter Frank Warren promised a “good” opponent but he recently ruled out the possibility of the “Gypsy King” facing Joshua’s former defeater Andy Ruiz Jr., who is believed to have priced himself out of the fight.
I’m talking to Play UKJoshua’s other rival, Jarrell Miller, has revealed that Fury is “very interested” in fighting him as he discusses a potential all-American clash with Deontay Wilder.
“I’ve been one of the most avoided heavyweights for a long time. We’re seeing it now. We’re trying to get Deontay Wilder out there. There’s no fight in front of him. I’m the top heavyweight in America right now, so we’re trying to make certain things happen. Let’s see if he can take control.”
“Tyson Fury is also very interested. I would love to fight these guys. Deontay or Tyson would be a wonderful fight for me. Let’s see if we can make it happen.”
Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, recently confirmed both fighters’ desire to make the fight happen, but said Miller would likely not be able to complete a full training camp on time.
The American has already scored two victories in 2026, defeating both Kingsley Ibeh and Lenier Pero, and the 37-year-old hopes those triumphs will earn him another chance on the huge stage.
“I’m not interested in belts” – Ryan Rozicki talks about changing Zuffa Boxing
Zuffa Boxing 07 debuts in the UK: Billam-Smith vs. Rozicki preview
Ryan Garcia wants to train with Naoya Inoue in Tokyo and broadcast it live
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