“The Gypsy king is back!” Were the words of Michael Buffer as the scorecards read: 120-108, 120-108, and 119-109 for Tyson Fury to defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov by unanimous decision tonight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The victory in front of 60,000 fans breaks a two-fight losing streak for Fury (35-2-1 24 KOs), who took a 16-month retirement from boxing following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Makhmudov (21-3, 19 KOs) came out firing to start round one, in his best round of the fight. However, he was tangled up by Fury, who was also comfortable on the back foot. Fury was half feinting his jab as Makhmudov was attempting to rough him up and would land a glancing right hand. But he would keep falling under the armpit, as Fury would take advantage of the Russian’s kidneys.
Fury took the center of the ring in round two, refusing to let Makhmudov attempt to walk him down. In the closing 30 seconds, Makhmudov came bowling forward with some wild attempts to the head, glancing one of the shots off the top of the head. However, Fury was wise, turning the big Russian into the corner and throwing a well-timed uppercut.
In the third round, Fury’s jab became more prevalent, as Makhmudov continued to try to push the action. As the two men became tangled, Fury dug in some decent punches to the body.
Makhmudov was becoming frustrated by Fury’s dark arts in round four. Fury would let loose a couple of flashy jabs, tie up his opponent, and place him under his armpit. However, Makhmudov would land a clubbing right hand flush on Fury’s face, which prompted more holding.
The action dipped in round five as both men were chest-to-chest for much of the three minutes. As the final minute approached, Fury again snuck in some left hands to the body and head. However, both men touched gloves as the bell rang in a good display of sportsmanship.
In round six, Fury was intent on finding a home for his left jab, while attempting to scuttle out of harm’s way as Makhmudov continued to come forward looking to land a wild overhand right to the head, but Fury would use his superior movement to avoid. Fury was starting to show a little showmanship, enjoying a well-placed double jab.
Moving into round seven and past the halfway stage of the fight, Mkahmudov’s offense had become a little more tapered, but it only allowed Fury to find some more rhythm behind his jab. Fury landed a big uppercut, but Makhmudov returned with his own right hand over the top in the pick of the round.
In the eighth, Makhmudov had started to slow as Fury appeared to be settling in for a full 12-rounder. Fury landed a smart left hook on the back foot, but Makhmudov caught him back with a decent shot to the head. Fury seemed slightly concerned as he held on for a second. However, it was another clear Fury round, who landed another good uppercut during the session.
Round nine began quietly and continued for the 60,000 fans in attendance to witness the fight’s least entertaining three minutes. Largely due to Makhmudov’s inactivity, Fury scooped up another round due to his jab and a solitary left uppercut.
Going into round ten, Netflix commentator and analyst David Haye had compiled a score of 89-83 in favor of Fury. I did not disagree. The round opened quietly and continued until the closing 30 seconds of the period, where Fury landed another peach of an uppercut.
Makhmudov was struggling to come up with any ideas by the time round eleven got underway. Fury was composed behind his jab and would continue to land the uppercut with Makhmudov continuing to lean forward. A stoppage was almost on the cards, but the bell came at the right time for the Russian. Fury landed a left uppercut, followed by right and left hooks, as Makhmudov was a sitting duck pressed to the corner.
Makhmudov needed a knockout with nearly all the rounds going to Fury in my view. Fury controlled another three minutes and landed a crowd-pleasing left hook to the side of the head in the closing minute.
Fury made a call for Anthony Joshua, who was sitting ringside, to agree to fight him in his next fight. However, due to some technical difficulties, the fans in the stadium could not hear the conversation. Fury’s victory was dedicated to British boxing legend Ricky Hatton, who sadly passed away last September.
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