Can Arslanbek Makhmudov Force Tyson Fury into Retirement? 'He's the Greatest of All Time'

The highly anticipated showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is still on the horizon, but first, Fury must overcome a formidable opponent in Arslanbek Makhmudov. The Gypsy King is set to face Makhmudov at Tottenham, marking his first fight since back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024. Despite ongoing speculation about a potential fight against Joshua, Fury remains focused on the challenge at hand. Fury downplayed rumors of a signed agreement with Joshua, stating, 'I've heard it all before... until we're in the ring together, there's no fight on.' His attention is now on Makhmudov, a 21-2 fighter with 19 knockout wins, 16 of which came within two rounds. Makhmudov, known for his intimidating presence, has previously been filmed wrestling a bear. Fury is not taking him lightly, acknowledging that his opponent is 'a very dangerous man, a massive monster.' Fury anticipates that Makhmudov will be at his best, but remains confident in his own abilities, saying, 'The best Makhmudov versus the Gypsy King, the Gypsy King wins any day.' Makhmudov, on the other hand, believes that Fury is the greatest heavyweight in history, but is determined to retire him. '100 per cent, for me, all my life I've prepared to beat him,' he said. Fury's promoter, Camille Estephan, warned that Makhmudov is coming to deliver a war, and if Fury is not ready, it could be a short night and the end of his career. Fury, who has unretired multiple times, maintains that little has changed and that he is still the same fighter. Should he lose this weekend, he accepts that the blame will be on him, saying, 'If anything goes wrong, blame me!'