heavyweight

Tyson Fury beats Arslanbek Makhmudov in a unanimous points decision as he makes his heavyweight comeback.

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury marked his return to the ring with a comprehensive and unanimous points win over Arslanbek Makhmudov at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

British boxer Fury won 120-108 on two of the judges’ scorecards, with the other ruling he had defeated his Russian opponent 119-109 after the maximum 12 rounds on Saturday.

Makhmudov made a strong start to the first round, throwing a left and connecting with an overhand right.

But by the third round, Makhmudov was already showing signs of fatigue, with Fury switching stances and hitting a one-two off the Russian’s chin.

The fight continued in a similar fashion until the final bell, as Fury moved closer to a “Battle of Britain” super-fight with fellow former world champion Anthony Joshua, who was watching from ringside.

“I’ve never had a problem getting in the ring with you. I punched you out when we were kids, and I’ll punch you out again,” Joshua said as Fury shouted at him from the ring.

“With all due respect, tonight is your night, and you know I’ll [be] in that ring across from you in due time,” Joshua added.

“You aren’t going to tell me what to do. I’ve been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you’re ready, you come and see me … I’m the boss. You work for me.”

British heavyweight Derek Chisora has hinted at a return to boxing despite planning to retire after his loss to Deontay Wilder.

Chisora, 42, suffered a points defeat by Wilder in a wild heavyweight contest last Saturday, with the Brit dropped in the eighth round and sent through the ropes.

Before the bout, Chisora said it would be his final fight – however, he hesitated to confirm this decision in the ring afterwards.

Now, Chisora is pushing for a rematch, saying he was “upset” with the decision.

“I’m very upset with the scoring,” Chisora told TalkSport before Tyson Fury’s return to the ring against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

“The two knockdowns that were given were pushes. It was an embarrassment. I’m not happy with that.

“The whole thing was a shambles, on my side and his side as well.

“I want to get the rematch.”

Chisora went on to confirm that he is only interested in a rematch with his most recent rival.

Fury was in the same upbeat mood he has shown all week – making time for fans outside beforehand, laughing and joking with the media, and strolling out to Eminem’s ‘Without Me’ with the line “guess who’s back?” blasting over the speakers.

But the focus soon turned to the scales, with weight a talking point throughout the Morecambe fighter’s career.

He was a career-heaviest 20st 1lb (127.5kg) – although fully clothed – for his rematch with Usyk in December 2024, while during his hiatus from boxing between 2016 and 2018 he ballooned to around 28st (177.8kg) amid personal struggles.

Fury – who has spent his training camp in Pattaya, Thailand – weighed the same as he did for his last fight in the United Kingdom in December 2022 when he beat fellow Briton Derek Chisora.

“It’s a decent, comfortable, happy weight for Fury. A lot of people thought he’d come in heavier, but that’s a good weight,” said BBC Radio 5 Live boxing pundit Steve Bunce.

“He looks like a man that has been training in the heat for an awful long time.

“He might have been 23 or 24 stone when he started training for this fight. He’s moved a little bit of weight and built it up slowly after his exile. He’s been walking up hills and carrying trees. I love how he looks.”

Makhmudov, though, is one of the few heavyweights capable of matching Fury for sheer physical presence.

Standing 6ft 6in, the Russian-born, Canada-based fighter – known as ‘The Lion’ – has secured 21 wins in 23 fights, including 19 by knockout, and arrives in London with a reputation as a heavy puncher.

Makhmudov’s most recent victory came against British heavyweight Dave Allen in October 2025.

“I’m ready to go. I can’t wait for tomorrow night to make my dream happen. I’ve waited a long time to get here. It’s my dream and my time,” he said.

Deontay Wilder beats Derek Chisora with a split decision win after a dramatic heavyweight contest in what is expected to be Chisora’s final professional bout.

Pictures courtesy of DAZN PPV

READ MORE: Chisora beaten by Wilder in captivating bout

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Former WBC champion comes out on top in the closely-contested fight against his British opponent in London.

Former world champion Deontay Wilder sent Derek Chisora into retirement by edging their engaging yet chaotic heavyweight fight in London, United Kingdom.

The boxers, aged 40 and 42 respectively, threw hopeful knockout punches and barely jabbed. Both slipped and fell to the canvas frequently during the bout at the O2 Arena on Saturday.

Wilder got the only knockdown in the eighth round, sending Chisora through the ropes, but the American was deducted a point in the same round for pushing. Chisora was rattled, but Wilder did not press his advantage.

Wilder dominated the early rounds, and Chisora rallied late. The judges were split in their scoring: Wilder received scores of 115-111 and 115-113, and the third picked Chisora by 115-112.

Wilder said the fight was fun and suggested he didn’t want to knock out Chisora.

“Tonight, I looked out for him. I want him to live for his kids,” he told broadcaster DAZN. “It’s time for us to take care of each other.”

Chisora said in the build-up that the fight was to be his last, but the Londoner was reluctant to confirm it afterwards.

“I’m going to go home with the boss lady and see,” he told DAZN. “I’m going to go home and drop the kids, do the school run.”

It was the 50th fight for both in the professional ranks.

Wilder improved his record to 45-4-1. The WBC titleholder from 2015 to 2020 came to London having lost four of his last six fights.

Chisora’s record since 2007, when he turned pro a year before Wilder, dropped to 36-14. He lost his only two title shots against Vitali Klitschko in 2012 and Tyson Fury in 2022.

Heavyweights Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder will reach a combined 100 professional fights when they meet at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday.

British veteran Chisora, 42, made his professional debut in 2007 and has recorded 36 wins and 13 defeats.

Former world heavyweight champion Wilder, 40, was once considered the most feared puncher in boxing. However, he has lost four of his last six bouts, leaving his record at 44-4-1.

Chisora says this will be his final fight. If he is to be believed, can he bow out on a high? And with Wilder no longer at his peak, could a win on the road reignite his career?

BBC Sport asks figures from across the boxing world for their predictions.