Boxing analysis: Everything you need to know ahead of Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov
After being supposedly “retired,” Tyson Fury returns to the ring on Saturday, April 11, to face off against Arslanbek Makhmudov in a 12-round heavyweight bout.
This is the first time Fury has stepped into the ring in over a year, so it could shape up to be quite the match.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Matthew Morgan highlights everything you need to know before the fight.
Date and time
The fight will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The stadium has a capacity of around 62,000, with a 17,500-seat South Stand, making it the country's largest single-tier stand, which will make a “wall of noise” for the event.
How to watch
Netflix, who have a growing involvement in live sports, are streaming the event live, making it accessible for UK viewers.
BBC Sport will also provide a live text commentary for those unable to watch.
Fight night schedule
The main card is set to begin at 19:00 BST, with many exciting fights beforehand.
Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis, the co-main event, is scheduled to start at 21:30pm, with Fury to make his ringwalk at approximately 10:30pm, depending on the earlier fights.
Undercard fights
There is a stacked undercard, showing many heavyweight clashes like Jeamie Tshikeva vs Richard Riakporhe in a domestic title fight.
Frazer Clarke vs Justis Huni is another heavyweight bout to watch out for, being an important fight for both contenders.
The prelims will showcase a number of domestic talents, including:
Simon Zachenhuber vs Pawel August
Felix Cash vs Liam O’Hare
Mikie Tallon vs Leonardo Blanc
Breyon Gorham vs Eduardo Costa
Hector Lozano v Sultan Almohammed
Elliot Whale v Tom Hill
This full night of boxing ensures there will be a lot of expertise on show.
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Fighter comparison
Just observing the stats, there is a clear favourite.
Fury has a record of 34-2-1, with years of fighting experience under his belt.
He has defeated the biggest names in boxing, like Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder.
The “Gypsy King” stands at an impressive 6’9” with an 85-inch reach, allowing him to control the distance against his opponent.
Makhmudov still has an impressive record of 21-2 with a reputation largely built on his knockout power. However, Fury has faced this archetype of a fighter in the past and came out victorious.
The Russian powerhouse has not faced this level of competition before, but if he can close the distance, he can be a genuine threat.
What’s at stake?
There are no belts on the line for this fight, but there is a lot of pride.
Fury is looking to show he still has what it takes after a year out of the ring, and to re-establish himself as a top contender, setting up a much-anticipated showdown against Anthony Joshua.
For Makhmudov, this is the biggest opportunity in his career. Taking down a massive name like Fury will elevate his reputation to a whole new level.
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Fury’s thoughts before the fight
"It's just doing what I already did in the past but bringing different stuff back to life that I haven't been doing lately - if a 37-year-old Tyson Fury can do what a 27-year-old Tyson Fury did back in the day. And so I'm really putting things together honestly," Fury said to Sky Sports.
"I want a brutal knockout over Makhmudov. It's going to be fun."
Prediction and opinion
If Fury can retain his form from the last few years, he should win this fight. His experience, size and fighting IQ give him the edge.
Makhmudov is certainly not out for the count, and could definitely make things uncomfortable, especially in the early stages of the fight.
I think the most likely outcome is that Fury will take control of the fight as it progresses, using his jab to wear his opponent down before securing a late stoppage, or winning on points.
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