Fight report
Right, Don McRae’s report has landed from an eventful evening in Tottenham – I’ll leave you to get stuck into it. Which is exactly what I will be doing. Thanks for following the action with me – be well!
Tyson Fury completed the first stage of his latest comeback when he outclassed Arslanbek Makhmudov in an uninspiring near shutout over 12 rounds late on Saturday night.
The former world heavyweight champion has retired on five previous occasions and, each time, he has been unable to resist the lure of a return to the ring. Now, even at the age of 37, time he was still too fast, fluid and accurate for the lumbering Makhmudov.
“Nobody likes southpaws,” says a backstage Conor Benn, who beat Regis Prograis by unanimous decision earlier in the chief support. “But we got the job done, came through a few scratches, but ultimately we keep it moving.
“It’s a different challenge from Eubank, it was my first fight against a former two-time world champion… ultimately I want my world title, I want my WBC belt by fighting [Ryan] Garcia next. Ryan, keep it warm for me.”
Benn has a few bumps and cuts from the head clashes but it was an entertaining, if not exactly punch-perfect, victory.
So what have we learned tonight? Tyson fury at 37 is far from washed up – at least against a heavyweight as brave but limited as Arslanbek Makhmudov.
But it was strongly trailed all night that a superfight with Anthony Joshua would be announced in the ring post-bout. Fury roared his challenge in typical, understated style. Joshua looked a bit nettled – like he either didn’t enjoy the interaction or genuinely didn’t want to commit to anything until the contracts are signed – and AJ demurred, calling his British rival “a clout chaser”. So that was a little curious.
Hey, when did heavyweight boxing ever make any logical sense?
“Contracts are being sent over and you’ll probably see us in the ring next, more than likely,” accepts Anthony Joshua.
On whether he needs wants a warm-up fight, he tells Anna Woolhouse on Netflix: “Good question. That [Fury] could be a warm-up fight, based on what I saw tonight.”
“Lets give the fans what they want!” roars Tyson fury post-fight in true WWE style, as he challenges Anthony Joshua to a fight. He may add “come on you shithouse” as AJ responds with an icy stare.
Joshua’s eyes burn a hole through Fury. “I’ve never had a problem getting in the ring with you. I punched you up when we were kids … but you don’t tell me what to do,” he responds.
“Don’t run from me!” Fury fires back. Hmm, they were strongly hinting this fight was going to be announced post-fight. But Joshua was playing coy.
Fury beats Makhmudov by unanimous decision
120-108, 120-108, 119-109 … Tyson fury lost only one round, on one scorecard, as he dominated Arslanbek Makhmudov. A comprehensive victory. If Makhmudov is nicknamed ‘The Lion’, then Fury was the lion-tamer, picking his punches by the end.
Total Tyson fury dominance really, increasingly so as the fight went on and Fury fought himself into better shape and Arslanbek Makhmudov. Fury tries to usher Anthony Joshua into the ring but he’s not stepping up yet! We await the inevitable decision.
Round 12
Fury is up on his feet to start the final round, he looks sharper now than he did in round one as he’s shed the ring rust. He’s targeting Makhmudov’s body, looking to bring the hands down and make space for the uppercut to the noggin. Oh, a spiteful Fury hook with a minute to go! The crowd roars their approval but Makhmudov has been so durable tonight. Fury showboats to the finish, raises and fist and hugs Makhmudov, praising his game effort.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Fury 10-9 Makhmudov (Fury 119-109 Makhmudov)
14h ago22.50BST
Round 11
SugarHill Steward gives Tyson fury a minor rocket, he wants his charge to get Makhmudov out of there. Fury lands another one-two and Makhmudov lumbers forwards. His slow haymakers are not connecting. A slower-paced round than the previous two … at least until the final 30 seconds when Fury crunches in an uppercut to the chest, fires a combination, and pins Makhmudov into the corner! One-way traffic.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Fury 10-9 Makhmudov (Fury 109-100 Makhmudov)
Round 10
Fury thumps to the body as the pair clinch. Makhmudov’s mouthpiece comes out after he swallows a mean one-two up close. The Russian is glad of the breather as the gumshield is put back in, but is greeted with a Fury right hand that crunches into his temple! He falls into Fury but just about takes it. Makhmudov gamely comes forward, Fury is sizing him up for an uppercut. Makhmudov survives the round but he’s eating some serious leather.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Fury 10-9 Makhmudov (Fury 99-91 Makhmudov)
Round 9
A reminder this is scheduled for 12 rounds. Will it get that far? Fury has landed over 100 punches as this round begins and while the majority are jabs, he’s increasingly upping the number of power shots. Fury is now the one pushing Makhmudov to the ropes. Fury’s jabs are piercing Makhmudov’s high guard. Makhmudov is showing plenty of guts in there but he’s getting outworked and pretty much outclassed.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Fury 10-9 Makhmudov (Fury 89-82 Makhmudov)
Round 8
Fury’s jab is a range-finder, a ramrod, a distraction; whatever he needs it to be. But after setting the table with the jab, the idea is you ‘eat’ with the other punches – and on cue Fury lands an uppercut and a big left hand to the head! That stiffens Makhmudov’s legs and has him in survival mode. Fury is going through the gears here and Makhmudov is tiring.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Fury 10-9 Makhmudov (Fury 79-73 Makhmudov)
Round 7
Makhmudov finally has some success, landing two clean shots that – if they don’t at all shake up Fury – at least get his respect. But, as Andre Ward correctly assesses on commentary, he’s smothering his own work and is unable to capitalise on what pockets of success he has. Fury lands a terrific uppercut! He’s been looking for that and it lands. Makhmudov took it well. Fury goes back to controlling everything with his jab.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Fury 10-9 Makhmudov (Fury 69-64 Makhmudov
15h ago22.30 BST
Round 6
Fury fires in some straight punches to body and head. He easily evades Makhmudov’s cumbersome blows. Anthony Joshua is filming at all on his phone at ringside. Why not, eh? Though this is hardly a classic, AJ. Makhmudov rumbles forward. In truth, Fury is rarely catching him clean but every now and then, he lands a crisp blow. Fury briefly goes southpaw, then switches back again.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Fury 10-9 Makhmudov (Fury 59-55 Makhmudov)
Round 5
Makhmudov is landing the odd flush punch. But they are one-offs. Fury, unsurprisingly at 37, doesn’t look as light on his feet as he once did. But he’s still quicker with his fists and Makhmudov’s output has slowed. It’s an untidy fight but in the final minute, Fury goes to work, thumping in some body shots, then he lands a clubbing left hook up close. They touch gloves at the end of the round.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Fury 10-9 Makhmudov (Fury 49-46 Makhmudov)
Round 4
Makhmudov clips Fury with a solid left hand! No sense Fury was rocked but it was a clean punch, the Russian is enthused and ups his work rate, launching hooks. Admittedly, they look like they’re coming through porridge, but you wouldn’t want to get caught by one. Fury grapples, counters, briefly gets Makhmudov in a headlock. A one-two right down the pipe from Fury lands flush on Makhmudov with a minute to go. It’s a bit of a roughhouse fight but Fury is busier and doing better work.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Fury 10-9 Makhmudov (Fury 39-37 Makhmudov)
Round 3
“I hurt him there,” Fury tells trainer SugarHill Steward in the corner between rounds. On the round’s start, he looks to use his feet, circling Makhmudov and firing out a more authoritative jab. Fury is headhunting, although Makhmudov’s body is a large target. The pair clinch in the last minute but Fury does start banging to the body now. Several times. Makhmudov is realising that in a mauling scrap up close, Fury is as comfortable as he is at range.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Fury 10-9 Makhmudov (Fury 29-28 Makhmudov)
Updated at
Round 2
Makhmudov comes forward with more clubbing shots. He’s got a pawing jab but it’s pretty slow. Fury’s flicking jab is faster. He’s in centre ring, feinting, looking to counter ‘The Lion’. Makhmudov keeps charging Fury to the ropes but the two just clinch and grapple when Fury gets there. At the end of the round, Fury spins Makhmudov into the corner and lands some shots.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Fury 10-9 Makhmudov (Fury 19-19 Makhmudov)
Round 1
Makhmudov, very similar dimensions to Fury, bulls forward. He lands one decent right hand. He has a host of first-round KOs – of his 19 KOs in 23 fights, the vast majority are early. Fury isn’t unsettled though, he flicks out some counters. He’s happy to back off, observe his opponent, start to get a read on his style. It is crude. In the final minute, Fury holds his feet a little more in centre ring and fires off some straight punches.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Fury 9-10 Makhmudov (Fury 9-10 Makhmudov)
A reminder that earlier, we were promised a huge announcement post-fight – and Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn are ringside at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. So, well, you do the maths. But first we have the small matter of Fury trying to earn a first win since 2023 first!
Michael Buffer is readying and rumbling.
If it was any normal boxer, you’d say crying during the ring entrance was a bad sign – shades of Oliver McCall. But of course Tyson fury is not normal.
His mood switches like the wind and after shedding a tear for Hatton and having got rid of that emotion, he’s got a wide grin plastered over his face as he heads for the ring and the heavyweight contest up next!
15H ago21.58 BST
Tyson Fury is in tears as he emerges, his ring entrance the promised tribute to Ricky Hatton. We get a blast of Blue Moon and Fury is in a sky blue and black robe to pay homage to his friend and the British boxing icon.
Arslanbek Makhmudov walks to the ring, looking focused. He has a strange quirk – almost Bill Goldberg-esque (dare I saw on the Guardian) – of twitching his muscular neck. It does not detract from his intimidating aura I must say.
Source: The guardian
