This Saturday, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the “Gypsy King” Tyson Fury will make his return after an 18-month layoff. His opponent will be the heavy-handed Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov, and the event, promoted by Goldstar Promotions, will be broadcast live on Netflix.
A favorable stylistic matchup
Before the first clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, many observers predicted a win for the Gypsy King, pointing to the size difference between the two fighters. I disagreed. A closer look at Fury’s characteristics and career suggested the opposite: the British heavyweight has always been far more comfortable against big, slow, predictable opponents than against agile, quick, compact ones.
Fury’s main strengths—his footwork, upper-body movement, reflexes, and ability to read his opponent—shine brightest when facing a static giant, even one with raw power. The choice of Arslanbek Makhmudov as a comeback opponent seems to follow this logic: the Russian is very powerful, but also slow, stiff, and lacking sudden acceleration. In other words, the perfect style to showcase the best version of Tyson Fury.
Will I be the next to decline?
A recent video circulated online, both amusing and telling, in which Tyson Fury commented on last Saturday’s show at the O2 Arena, where his former opponents Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora faced each other—both having shared the ring with Fury three times.
Fury appeared shocked by their physical decline, stating: “I’d never seen two men decline as much as those two in my life.” He then raised a troubling question: “Am I next? Is this me?” That question lies at the heart of Saturday’s fight: will the Gypsy King still be the fighter we know?
What will happen? The Boxe Punch prediction
As mentioned, the dynamics of this fight will depend on the condition in which Tyson Fury shows up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Fury who delivered a highly competitive performance against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh in May 2024 would have no trouble neutralizing Makhmudov’s attacks and punishing him.
Even the slightly heavier but still respectable version seen in the rematch with Usyk would likely be enough to dominate the Russian giant, who lacks the dynamism required to trouble a fighter with Fury’s ring IQ, experience, and defensive mastery.
However, Fury is now approaching 38, has been inactive for a year and a half, and has subjected his body to a far-from-ideal lifestyle—gaining and losing weight repeatedly and indulging in excess between fights. History shows that such habits can take their toll at any moment.
If Fury appears sluggish, flat, and lacking sharpness, this could become a more complicated fight than expected. Despite his limitations, Arslanbek Makhmudov possesses tremendous physical strength, hits extremely hard, and knows this may be his last chance to break into the elite.
Since I don’t possess prophetic abilities, I can’t be certain what version of Fury we’ll see. However, I have the feeling this won’t be an easy night for him. The accumulation of wars, inactivity, and age may start to show, forcing the Brit to rely on experience and ring savvy to contain Makhmudov.
I expect a messy, fragmented fight, with frequent clinches and plenty of work for the referee. In my view, Fury will use his experience and the support of the crowd to land the cleaner shots, build a lead on the scorecards, and earn the judges’ decision—but without generating much excitement for the future.
My prediction: a clear points victory for Tyson Fury after a far-from-memorable fight.