The 37-year-old announced his retirement one month after losing the rematch with the unified heavyweight champion, but confirmed earlier this month that he was resuming his career. Fury said his passion for the sport had never faded, adding that he was eager to resume his pursuit of the top honours in the division.
The contest will be Fury’s first appearance since back-to-back losses to Usyk in 2024, the only defeats of his professional career. It also represents a return to fighting on home soil, with Fury not having boxed in the UK since December 2022, when he defeated Derek Chisora at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to retain the WBC title. Since then, he has fought three times in Saudi Arabia.
Makhmudov, 36, enters the bout with 21 wins from 23 professional fights. Known for his physical presence and power, he last fought in October, beating Britain’s Dave Allen. While some fans had hoped for a higher-profile opponent for Fury’s comeback, Makhmudov is viewed as a dangerous test for a fighter returning from retirement.
Fury, from Morecambe, has compiled a record of 34 wins from 37 fights, including 24 victories by knockout, alongside two losses and one draw. He first became a world champion in 2015, when he stunned Wladimir Klitschko to claim the WBA (Super), IBF and WBO titles. After a period away from the sport, he returned to the top in 2020 by defeating Deontay Wilder to win the WBC belt. Despite those achievements, Fury has never held the undisputed heavyweight championship.
The April fight will be promoted under the Ring Magazine banner and is backed by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Sports Authority. Although Fury is promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, which has an exclusive broadcast arrangement with Dazn, the promoter has allowed Fury to fight on Netflix for this event. Warren said publicly that his focus was on supporting Fury’s ambition to return to the top of the heavyweight division.
The Netflix broadcast is seen as significant, given the platform’s global subscriber base of around 325 million. It underlines Fury’s appeal beyond traditional boxing audiences and his status as one of the sport’s most recognisable figures.
Analysis: Fury’s Focus Returns to the Top
Fury’s comeback itself is not unexpected, given his history of retirements and returns. The notable development is the choice of broadcaster, with Netflix offering a level of exposure rarely matched in boxing. Love him or loathe him, Fury remains a major draw and one of the sport’s few genuine crossover stars.
The bout also highlights the continuing influence of Saudi-backed investment in boxing. While the number of major shows staged in Riyadh appears to be decreasing, the financial power behind the sport remains significant, with this event still supported by Saudi interests despite taking place in the UK.
From a sporting perspective, Makhmudov presents a physical threat, and Fury cannot afford complacency after two consecutive defeats. However, if Fury performs anywhere near the level he showed in his fights with Usyk, he is expected to have enough to secure a comfortable victory.
Looking beyond April, Fury has spoken of a desire to avenge his losses to Usyk within the year. The long-discussed all-British clash with Anthony Joshua, once anticipated for 2026, has cooled following Joshua’s serious car crash in December, leaving his future uncertain. With that bout on hold, attention is already turning towards a renewed push for world titles, including early speculation about a potential move towards WBO champion Fabio Wardley later in the year.