Tyson Fury confirms comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov for April 11
A former two-time heavyweight world champion, Fury announced a retirement from boxing at the start of 2025; But he has now revealed that he will come back on April 11 against Arslanbek Makhmudov; The bout will take place in the UK, with the venue to be announced later
Wednesday 28 January 2026 13:39, UK
Tyson Fury has confirmed his comeback fight against Aslanbek Makhmudov as the former heavyweight champion returns to boxing.
Fury will box heavyweight contender Makhmudov on April 11.
A former two-time heavyweight world champion, Fury announced a retirement from boxing at the start of 2025.
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But he signalled he wanted to return and went into training for a comeback fight.
He will box Makhmudov in the UK in April, with the venue to be announced later.
"Excited to be back. Heart's always been and always will be in boxing. Someone go tell the king that the ace is back!" Fury declared.
Makhmudov, a Russian based in Canada, is a strong heavyweight contender who has only lost to good quality opposition: Agit Kabayel, now the WBC Interim titlist, and Olympian Guido Vianello.
Makhmudov dominated Britain's popular Dave Allen in Sheffield in his most recent fight to reposition him for this contest.
Makhmudov said: "I am thrilled about the opportunity. I'm coming to deliver a war. Tyson Fury has been a big champion. I will be more ready than ever to leave with a massive W."
Fury has been a key figure in the heavyweight boxing landscape since he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in 2015 to become the unified WBO, WBA and IBF world heavyweight champion.
After that triumph mental health struggles kept him out of the sport until 2018, but he emerged from a thrilling trilogy with Deontay Wilder as the WBC world champion.
He has sold out both Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium previously and this fight with Makhmudov will be his first bout in the UK since 2022.
The only professional fighter to beat him is Oleksandr Usyk, who won their 2024 undisputed showdown and a rematch later that same year.
But Fury wants to return to the top of the sport and is looking to reclaim a world championship later this year.
Jones: Makhmudov the 'perfect' choice
Speaking on the Toe2Toe podcast, boxing experts Barry Jones and Don Charles selected Makhmudov as the ideal comeback opponent for Fury.
"That's the most logical one for him to come back to. That would be the one," top trainer Charles said.
Former world champion Jones noted: "I think Makhmudov is stylistically made for him. A big guy who can punch of course, who's dangerous. But who runs out of ideas very quickly, is quite slow and will gas out if he's missing. And Fury can make you miss.
"Even this Fury, who stands in front of you, can make you miss. Because he does box with his hands down, he gives you the opportunity. There's always that fact that he could get tagged. But I think Makhmudov is the perfect fight for him."
