Former two-time heavyweight world champion, Tyson Fury, has confirmed his return to boxing, scheduling a comeback fight against heavyweight contender Aslanbek Makhmudov on April 11.
The bout will take place in the UK, with the venue to be announced at a later date.
Fury, who shocked the boxing world by announcing his retirement at the start of 2025, has since signalled his desire to return to the ring and has been training intensively for his next challenge.
“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 fighter based in Canada, enters the contest as a rising heavyweight contender. He has only lost to high-quality opposition, including Agit Kabayel, now the WBC Interim champion, and Olympian Guido Vianello.
In his most recent bout, Makhmudov dominated Britain’s popular Dave Allen in Sheffield, positioning himself as a formidable opponent for Fury.
“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,” Makhmudov said.
Fury, 34, has long been a central figure in heavyweight boxing since dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in 2015 to become the unified WBO, WBA, and IBF world champion.
Following that victory, he faced personal struggles with mental health, which kept him away from the sport until his 2018 return.
Fury later reclaimed prominence with a thrilling trilogy against Deontay Wilder, regaining the WBC world heavyweight title.
He has headlined major UK venues before, selling out both Wembley Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. His fight with Makhmudov will mark his first UK bout since 2022.
The only professional opponent to have defeated Fury is Oleksandr Usyk, who won their undisputed heavyweight showdown in 2024 and a rematch later that year.
Despite this, Fury is determined to climb back to the top and aims to contend for a world championship later this year.
In preparation for his return, Fury has adopted an extreme training regime, reportedly including sprinting through fields while tied to a log. Videos of his workouts have been shared on his Instagram account, showcasing his dedication ahead of the April bout.
Boxing experts have weighed in on Fury’s choice of opponent. Speaking on the Toe2Toe podcast, Barry Jones and Don Charles both praised Makhmudov as an ideal comeback fight.
“That’s the most logical one for him to come back to. That would be the one,” said top trainer Charles.
Jones added, “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.”
With the countdown to April underway, boxing fans around the world are eagerly anticipating Fury’s return and the clash with Makhmudov, a fight that could set the tone for the former champion’s next chapter in the heavyweight division.
