LONDON – Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury dominated Russian fighter Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday night, earning a decisive victory by unanimous decision before issuing a dramatic challenge to fellow British boxer Anthony Joshua.
The bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium marked Fury’s return to the ring following his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last October, where he unsuccessfully attempted to reclaim the WBC title he had previously lost to the Ukrainian fighter.
Joshua observed the action from ringside as Makhmudov initially found some success in the opening rounds, aggressively pressuring Fury against the ropes. However, the Russian struggled to inflict significant damage during these early exchanges.
The tide turned when the 37-year-old Fury began utilizing his jab effectively to maintain distance and control the pace. He started alternating his stance, moving defensively, and targeting his opponent with uppercut combinations. Whenever the 36-year-old Makhmudov attempted to clinch, Fury responded with powerful strikes to both the body and head.
As Makhmudov’s energy waned, Fury increasingly dominated the latter portions of the 12-round contest, carefully selecting his attacks while remaining largely out of harm’s way.
The judges unanimously awarded Fury the victory, with two scorecards reading 120-108 and the third scoring it 119-109.
Following his triumph, Fury seized the microphone to publicly challenge the 36-year-old Joshua in what would potentially become the most significant fight in British boxing history.
“Next, I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for. I want you AJ, Anthony Joshua, let’s give the fight fans what they want, the Battle of Britain. And here’s my challenge. I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me, the Gypsy King, next – do you accept my challenge?” he bellowed.
When given an opportunity to respond, Joshua declined to immediately accept but indicated the fight could materialize if negotiations proceed successfully.
“Tyson, I’ve never had a problem getting in the ring with you,” Joshua said. “I’ll stand across that ring from you in due time. You ain’t going to tell me what to do.
“I’ve been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you’re ready, you come and see me and tell me your terms and conditions, and I’ll have you in the ring when I’m ready.”
