Respected boxing trainer and analyst Teddy Atlas has given his thoughts on Tyson Fury’s comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov, which is set to take place in just two months’ time.
A two-time heavyweight ruler, Fury hung up the gloves after twice falling short against Oleksandr Usyk during 2024, unable to capture the undisputed title and losing his undefeated record with the two defeats in Saudi Arabia.
However, on home turf, ’The Gypsy King’ remains unbeaten and the 37-year-old has announced that he will end his retirement to fight on British soil for the first time since 2022, as he gears up to face hard-hitting Russian, Makhmudov.
Speaking on his podcast, Teddy Atlas shared some concerns regarding Fury, given the punishment he has taken over the years, but admitted that he still favours the Briton to get the job done against Makhmudov.
“It’s an interesting fight to come back with, it’s not a slam dunk, it’s not a lay-up. Fury is getting older, he has taken a lot of punches in the last few years, in his fights with Wilder and his fights with Usyk.
“He is taking on a big giant of a man, who has been knocked out but also a giant of a man who can punch, who is tough, who is game. You can hit him, but he is a game, game guy, he is big as hell, he is a mountain of a man, he can bang.”
“Tyson Fury is definitely the guy who can box, the guy who has got more dimensions, more choices. It’s always good to have more options, he can fight you like he did Wilder, but he can box with you on the outside.
“So, at the end of the day, you have got to favour Fury but there is that question that always looms over guys that are later in their career – what has he got left?”
Fury-Makhmudov will take place on Saturday, April 11, and will be streamed lived on Netflix, although no official venue has been confirmed as of yet.