Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Tyson Fury Preview April 11th, 2026
Former unified heavyweight champion Tyson Fury of England returns to the ring this Saturday, April 11th to take on Arslanbek Makhmudov of Russia. Makhmudov, who fights out of Montreal, Canada, last fought in October when he beat Dave Allen by a 12-round unanimous decision even though he was deducted a point in the seventh and 12th rounds for holding. Fury last boxed in December, 2024 when he dropped a unanimous decision to Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch. They first met seven months earlier with the unbeaten Usyk winning a split decision to take Fury’s WBC Belt, which he won in 2020 by stopping Deontay Wilder. This weekend’s 12-rounder from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England can be seen live on Netflix in most nations.
Makhmudov vs Fury Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Arslanbek Makhmudov +446
- Tyson Fury -600
My Pick
The 36-year-old Makhmudov makes the ring walk with a record of 21-2 with 19 Ko’s. There’s no denying his power as 90.5 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage with Dave Allen and Carlos Takam being the only men to last the distance with him and go past the seventh round as well. In fact, 12 of his stoppages have come in the very first round. Makhmudov made his pro debut in 2018 and has just 69 rounds of experience under his belt due to his tremendous knockout record and questionable chin.
Before turning pro he had a fine amateur career and also fought in the World Series of Boxing. Makhmudov stands just over 6-feet-5-inches tall and reportedly has an 80-inch reach. So far, the biggest wins of his career have been against Allen, Miljan Rovcanin, Junior Anthony Wright, Michael Wallisch,Takam, Pavel Sour, Jason Bergman, Jonathan Rice, Samuel Peter, Erkan Teper and Mariusz Wach. Since turning pro he’s also captured the NABA, WBC Continental Americas and vacant WBC Silver Heavyweight Crowns.
As far as his losses go, in August, 2024 he was halted by Guido Vianello in the eighth round and he was stopped by Agit Kabayel in the fourth round in December, 2023 to lose his NABF, and WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight Belts. Makhmudov has struggled when stepping up in class but hasn’t really had any problem when taking on opponents who are below the elite level. To be honest though, while Kabayel may be a world-class heavyweight, it may be pushing it to say the same about Vianello.
Fury is slightly older at 37 and the native of Manchester, is best known for his controversial trilogy against Deontay Wilder (two wins and a draw) and his two straight defeats at the hands of Usyk. His only other true moment of glory as a pro boxer came in 2015 when he upset an aging Wladimir Klitschko by unanimous decision to win the IBF, WBO, IBO, WBA and Lineal World Titles. However it was arguably the worst heavyweight title fight in history. After beating Klitschko, Fury was soon stripped of his belts and suspended for drug use, but did still lay claim to the lineal crown as well as the WBC version until Usyk beat him.
Fury is also one of the bigger heavyweights as he measures 6-feet-9-inches tall with a wingspan of 85 inches which gives him 3.5-inches in height and five inches in reach on Makhmudov. He’ll enter the ring with a mark of 34-2-1 with 24 Ko’s and has 254 rounds under his belt since turning pro in 2008 following a good amateur career. He also owns better-than-average power as 70.6 per cent of his wins have come by way of stoppage but has gone the distance in seven of his last 13 outings. Fury possesses good, but awkward and unconventional boxing skills and has been been dropped by Usyk, Steve Cunningham, Neven Pajkic, Francis Ngannou and Wilder during his career which makes his chin a bit of a question mark as well.
Fury’s biggest wins were over Wilder and Klitschko but Klitschko basically gave his titles away by not engaging with him. Other than that, he’s also beaten some pretty good journeymen along the way such as Dereck Chisora (three times), Dillian Whyte, Francesco Pianeta, Otto Wallin, Christian Hammer, Joey Abell, Cunningham, Kevin Johnson, Marcelo Luiz Nascimento and Vinny Maddalone. Since turning pro Fury has also captured the English, Commonwealth, British, Irish, European, WBO Inter-Continental and WBO International Heavyweight Titles.
Prediction…
Fury has the edge in size and boxing skills but not power. In addition, neither boxer has a granite chin. However keeping Fury on the canvas could be a problem as he has pretty quick recovery powers and has a habit of getting up just before the count reaches 10. If you have him in trouble you need to make sure you don’t let him off the hook Usyk, Wilder and Francis Ngannou did. Fury will try to use his size and lean on Makhmudov while the Russian needs to get close enough to unleash his power shots. Makhmudov won’t be able to outbox Fury and with the blatant bias of UK judging and referees, as seen in last week’s Wilder vs Chisora fight, he will need to drop Fury several times or knock him out cold to earn a victory. Anything’s possible here, but Fury’s boxing skills and hometown advantage are going to make it pretty difficult for Makhmudov. Fury is 0-2 in his last two outings while Makhmudov is 3-2 in his past five.
Play: Fury-150 @ BetOnline.ag
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Arslanbek Makhmudov betting • Tyson Fury betting