Tyson Fury has locked in a date and an opponent for his latest return to the ring. Netflix announced Wednesday that Fury will face hard-hitting heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov in a bout scheduled for April 11 in the United Kingdom. The streaming giant will air the fight live, with the exact venue and city to be announced.
Fury walked away from boxing in January 2025 after suffering a second straight title-fight loss to longtime rival Oleksandr Usyk. It marked the fifth time “The Gypsy King” announced his retirement, fueling widespread skepticism about whether the 37-year-old was truly finished, especially with a long-discussed showdown against fellow British star Anthony Joshua still unresolved.
As expected, the retirement didn’t last. Earlier this year, Fury confirmed his comeback plans and began sharing regular training clips, signaling his intent to climb back to the top of the heavyweight division. A former unified world champion, Tyson Fury has held belts across multiple major organisations and now hunts his first victory since edging former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in October 2023.
For now, the Anthony Joshua fight is once again on hold. Joshua is currently dealing with a personal tragedy after a car accident in Nigeria in December claimed the lives of close friends and coaches Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami.
Instead, Fury returns against a dangerous and fearless opponent.Makhmudov enters the fight riding momentum, having won three of his last four bouts. His most recent victory came against David Allen, where he captured the WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title. Known for his power, the 36-year-old has scored 19 knockouts in 21 professional wins.
Ahead of that title fight in Sheffield last October, Makhmudov went viral after footage surfaced of him wrestling a bear during training. The clip stunned fans online and quickly made the rounds across boxing circles.
“Is the standard for winning ‘not dying?’” one fan wrote.“Looking back at all the mistakes I made in my life… watching this video makes me feel wise again,” another commented.
“This is indeed pretty insane. Claws look uncovered… jeez,” a third added.
Makhmudov laughed off the unconventional preparation, a sign that Tyson Fury’s aura alone won’t be enough to intimidate him when they meet on April 11.
In a twist only combat sports can deliver, Makhmudov isn’t the first elite fighter linked to bear wrestling. UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov famously grappled a bear cub as a child in Dagestan under the guidance of his father, long before beginning his unbeaten MMA career.
For Tyson Fury, the Netflix bout represents more than just another comeback, it’s a chance to reset his legacy, test his body after retirement, and remind the heavyweight division that he still belongs among boxing’s elite.
