Boxing enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the return of two-time world champion Tyson Fury as he steps back into the ring after a 15-month break to face Arslanbek Makhmudov. This eagerly awaited heavyweight clash, scheduled for 12 rounds, is set to take place in London, marking Fury's comeback in pursuit of another world title opportunity. The event promises an action-packed night for fans, with comprehensive coverage and a compelling undercard.
The highly anticipated fight between Tyson Fury and Arslanbek Makhmudov is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, 2026. Live text commentary for the event will commence at 8:00 PM BST on the BBC Sport website and its mobile application. Additionally, round-by-round updates will be provided for the co-main event featuring Conor Benn, ensuring fans stay engaged throughout the evening. The main card is slated to begin at 7:00 PM BST on Netflix, with Fury's ring walk expected around 10:30 PM BST, and Benn's fight preceding it at approximately 9:30 PM BST.
The undercard features a robust lineup of fights, including the main heavyweight event between Tyson Fury and Arslanbek Makhmudov. Other notable bouts include Conor Benn against Regis Prograis in the welterweight division, Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva defending his British heavyweight title against Richard Riakporhe, and a heavyweight clash between Frazer Clarke and Justis Huni. The preliminary matches will showcase talents such as Simon Zachenhuber vs. Pawel August (middleweight), Breyon Gorham vs. Eduardo Costa (light-welterweight), Mikie Tallon vs. Leonardo Blanc (flyweight), Felix Cash vs. Liam O'Hare (middleweight), Hector Lozano vs. Sultan Almohammed (super-featherweight), and Elliot Whale vs. Tom Hill (welterweight).
Despite being only a year apart in age, Tyson Fury, 37, and Arslanbek Makhmudov, 36, have carved out significantly different careers in professional boxing. Fury boasts an impressive record, having secured unified heavyweight titles in 2015 by defeating Wladimir Klitschko and the WBC world title in 2020 after overcoming Deontay Wilder. His resume features high-profile opponents such as Oleksandr Usyk (twice), Derek Chisora (thrice), and Dillian Whyte. In contrast, Makhmudov has secured victories against Dave Allen and Carlos Takam but has experienced two losses, to Guido Vianello and Agit Kabayel, suggesting struggles when competing at a higher caliber. Makhmudov's inclusion as an opponent for Fury was somewhat unexpected given his relatively lower profile.
A key difference between the two fighters lies in their recent activity. While Fury has been absent from the sport for 15 months, Makhmudov has maintained a more active schedule, fighting twice in both 2024 and 2025, and three times in 2023. This discrepancy in ring time could play a crucial role in the upcoming bout. Fury enters his 38th professional contest, having accumulated 254 rounds, whereas Makhmudov will participate in his 24th fight, with a significantly lower total of 69 rounds. Despite facing less formidable opponents, Makhmudov possesses an impressive knockout rate of 90%, compared to Fury's 71%, indicating his power and ability to finish fights decisively.
It is important to note that the Fury vs. Makhmudov fight will not be for a world title. Although Fury has been involved in world championship bouts consistently since 2020, including five wins, two losses, and one draw in eight world title fights, this particular 12-round contest is for pride and a pathway to future title opportunities. His fight against Francis Ngannou in 2023 was also a non-title affair, marking a pattern of engaging in high-profile matches outside of immediate championship contention.
