Fury wins wide decision but performance raises questions about his level against top heavyweights
Tyson Fury outpointed Arslanbek Makhmudov over 12 rounds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, 2026. The win was clear on the cards, but the performance raised questions about where he stands among the top heavyweights.
Fury (35-2-1, 24 KOs) beat Makhmudov (21-3, 19 KOs) by unanimous decision in a 12-round heavyweight main event. Fury came in around 267 lbs and started at a measured pace, giving Makhmudov a look early as the heavier, slower challenger tried to press forward. Once Fury found his range, he settled into control with the jab, movement, and straight shots, picking Makhmudov off as he came in.
Makhmudov kept pushing but struggled to land clean, with most of his work wide or smothered. Fury made him miss and answered with uppercuts and body shots, building rounds without taking risks or needing to change approach.
The judges scored it 120-108, 120-108, and 119-109, reflecting how one-sided it became through the middle and later rounds. Makhmudov stayed on his feet and kept coming, but he offered little to shift the fight.
It was a controlled return for Fury after a long layoff, built on distance, timing, and experience rather than urgency. Makhmudov showed durability, but once Fury settled in, the gap between them was clear.
The way Fury performed tonight, he’d have a high probability of losing to six to ten of the top-tier heavyweights in the division, including cruiserweights. He looked like he was dealing with a nasty witches’ brew of decline, inactivity, ring rust, and age. What Fury showed tonight wasn’t something that could be reversed by being active. There’s age and wear that were clearly evident.