Tyson Fury predicts early KO of Arslanbek Makhmudov

Fury says he expects quick finish in London return

Tyson Fury says he expects a quick night when he returns to the ring against Arslanbek Makhmudov, predicting an early knockout in their April 11 fight in London. Fury, 37, made it clear he is not planning for a long outing.

“I see the fight finishing in rounds three or four. Nice early night,” Fury said during a recent training clip, adding that a knockout is the only result he is focused on.

The bout, scheduled for 12 rounds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, will be Fury’s first appearance since his 12-round unanimous decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2025. Fury also leaned into his usual larger-than-life persona when discussing the fight.

“I bring a circus. I bring an entourage, entertainment, and cameras. I bring everything to the sport,” he said.

Makhmudov, known for his power, enters as a dangerous opponent capable of ending a fight with one punch, but Fury appeared unfazed by that threat and instead framed it as motivation.

“I have to fight somebody dangerous to make me want to even train, make me want to take it seriously,” Fury said.

Despite the risks, Fury’s outlook remains simple. He is expecting a fast finish, a win, and a quick exit.

“All I’m looking for is the big W,” he said.

Fury is currently sitting at 34-2-1, and those two back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024 have completely stripped away the aura of invincibility. He spent all of 2025 out of the ring after the second Usyk loss, having retired again. Returning at 37 after such a long time out of the ring rarely goes well for heavyweights who rely on reflexes.

Fury’s performance against Francis Ngannou in 2023 was the first major crack in the armor. Getting dropped by a boxing debutant, even if he won the split decision, showed that his focus and chin aren’t what they used to be.

Usyk solved him. Fury couldn’t use his size to bully the smaller man, and his feints and movements looked sluggish compared to the prime version of himself.

Choosing Makhmudov for his April 11 return is a massive risk if he actually is washed. Makhmudov is essentially a younger, fresher version of the scary puncher archetype.

If Fury is telling the truth about a round 3 or 4 knockout, he has to find a gear we haven’t seen since the second Wilder fight. If he shows up looking like the version that fought Ngannou, he might find out that the “circus” has finally run out of acts.