Tyson Fury could make his return to the ring in 2026 against Russian giant Arslanbek Makhmudov – the man who trains for his fights by wrestling bears and taking sledgehammer shots to the gut.
‘The Gypsy King’ has not fought since his rematch defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last December. After a second successive defeat to the masterful Ukrainian, Fury announced his retirement from boxing – the fifth time he has made such a vow throughout his career.
As many might have expected, Fury has since announced his intentions to return to action, sharing footage of him in training over the festive period. The 37-year-old admitted in his latest social media clip he is ‘a bit chubby’ after time away from the ring but assured his fans he is capable of beating anybody ‘with a fat belly.’
A long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua was once again on the cards for 2026. But the devastating car crash in Nigeria that left Joshua with minor injuries and claimed to the lives of two of his close friends means his future in boxing is uncertain.
Another British heavyweight in newly-crowned world champion Fabio Wardley is another compelling option. But Makhmudov has also emerged a possibility.
Makhmudov is one of the most fearsome-looking fighters operating in the heavyweight division, bludgeoning his way to 21 victories from 23 fights, beating another Brit in Dave Allen in October.
Standing at 6ft 5in with a monstrous bulging neck, Makhmudov is a terrifying prospect at a glance. Ahead of his fight against Allen, footage on his Instagram account showed the giant grappling with a bear, also having members of his team take turns hitting him in the stomach with sledgehammers as part of his conditioning training.
While certainly an imposing presence, Makhmudov has shown he can be vulnerable in the ring. He has lost two of his last five fights, stopped twice in the space of six months against Agit Kabyael and Guido Vianello, two fighters he was expected to beat.
Joshua was in the frame to fight Makhmudov last year before his focus switched to Jake Paul. Fury’s team have now suggested he is seriously being considered for the former champion’s grand return.
‘[Tyson] is a very intelligent guy,’ his promoter Frank Warren told Box Nation when asked about the Makhmudov fight.
‘He knows what he wants to do and how to get there. Of course, there’s a discussion over opponents and so forth, but he’s not stupid.
‘He knows what he’s got to do… we may do that [Makhmudov fight].’
While Makhmudov is a formidable presence, he would be regarded as a beatable for someone of Fury’s calibre, a ‘warm-up’ fight for the former WBC champion before moving onto bigger and better things. Fury would be expected to get the job done were the fight to be made but it would pose its own risks after his extended break away from the ring.
Last year, former cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson advised Joshua to avoid a fight with the man they call ‘The Lion’, insisting a shock defeat would end the Briton’s career.
‘It is a risk,’ Nelson told Metro. ‘I don’t expect Joshua to be turned over by Makhmudov but if he were to get turned over by him then it’s over. There’s no excuse, it would be done.
‘Makhmudov has shown his levels, which is just above Dave Allen’s level. But below world title level. The problem with AJ and Fury is who they fight next. Because they are not the fighters they were. They are beatable.
‘There is still value to their name and value in fighting each other but they can’t accord to lose to anyone else. So they have to be smart.’