‘Hunter’ Tyson Fury Feels Bad For Arslanbek Makhmudov

In a day, Tyson Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) will fight it out against Arslanbek Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs) to reclaim his position as a top dog in the heavyweight division. And for once, he isn’t the one being chased but the one chasing.

Talking at their final press conference, Fury revealed a major change in his mindset ahead of fight night.

“It’s going to be different because, for the first time in forever, I’m the hunter. I’m not the hunted, and we all know that when I’ve always been the hunter in the past, I’ve always fucked people up,” he said.

The fight can be considered a key comeback bout, with both fighters arriving from very different situations. Fury is returning after a 15-month layoff, following unsuccessful fights against Oleksandr Usyk in 2024 and the retirement that followed, so this is about rebuilding his position at the top of the heavyweight division. Makhmudov, on the other hand, comes in as an active competitor, riding recent wins, albeit having mixed results against higher-level opponents,

Fury, calling himself “the hunter,” certainly shows a shift in his mindset. Coming off losses and a layoff, he’s the one pursuing redemption, big fights, and relevance again.

“I actually feel sorry for Makhmudov because I’m going to make an example of him. He’s a big six-foot-seven lump, 18 or 19 stone. But I’ll knock his head right off his shoulders. I’m going to lay him unconscious like the gamecock on top of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium,” he said without any hesitation. “He will be knocked spark out on the canvas looking up thinking: ‘What just happened there?’ But it’s no shame because he’s fighting the great Tyson Fury.”

“I’m Bored of The Normal Life”

Coming out of retirement, it is a pressing question whether he would go back into another fight. But it sure seems like there is a reason he has a hard time staying retired.

“Make no mistake, when I walk away every time from boxing, I have zero intentions of returning. However, after a few months, I’m bored of the normal life, dropping the kids off at school, taking the dog for a walk, that sort of stuff,” he said. “I missed the game. I missed the boxing.”

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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