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Tyson Fury returns to the ring tonight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, ending a 16-month absence to face big puncher Arslanbek Makhmudov in a heavyweight clash that carries more intrigue than it perhaps would have done a year ago.

Fury, now 37, has been open about the uncertainty surrounding his comeback, admitting in fight week that inactivity and age could have taken something from him.

Still, if he resembles anything close to the man who pushed Oleksandr Usyk in two high-level encounters, he will be expected to get the job done against an opponent who, while heavy-handed, has shown vulnerabilities at world level.

That is certainly the opinion of former world champion Carl Froch, who told New Betting Sites that Makhmudov could be a banana skin if ‘The Gypsy King’ hasn’t prepared properly, but ultimately doesn’t think that will be the case.

“It’s a potential bad fight for Fury, if Fury’s not taking it seriously, but from what I’ve seen and heard of him, and he’s not in bad shape, he’s not gone massive, he’s not gone up to 25 stone.

“I think he wins, I just hope he’s got the fitness and the engine to do the 12 rounds, because Makhmudov is quite fit and strong for 12 rounds. But he’s shown vulnerabilities around the body, and he’s not of that level. But we don’t know what we’re gonna get with Tyson Fury. I feel like anything can happen.”

With a long-awaited showdown against Anthony Joshua potentially waiting later this year, all eyes will be on how Fury performs rather than simply whether he wins. A convincing display keeps those plans on track – anything less could raise serious questions about what he has left at the top level.

Tenshin Nasukawa faces a credibility test against Juan Francisco Estrada in a WBC bantamweight title eliminator in Tokyo, with live results and updates tracked throughout the card.

The event takes place at Ryōgoku Kokugikan and streams on DAZN, with Nasukawa stepping back in against a proven opponent after his loss to Takuma Inoue last November. The matchup places him against a veteran in Estrada, a former champion at flyweight and super flyweight who remains active at a high level deep into his career.

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Last Updated on 2026/04/11 at 4:30 AM

Hitchins revealed his position during a live Q&A session in Miami tied to Zuffa’s rollout, pointing to flexibility on weight while keeping multiple opponents in play as he begins his run with the promotion.

“I think a fight between me and Teofimo is still a big fight, and I heard he might stay at 140 or he might go to 147. So me and him, it’s still possible. We can do it at 140 or 147,” Hitchins said.

Lopez has not confirmed his next division, leaving open the possibility of a matchup at either junior welterweight or welterweight. Hitchins indicated he is prepared to adjust depending on where that fight can be made.

Hitchins also grouped Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia alongside Lopez as part of the matchups he is targeting during his next run.

“After my last fight with Max Kambosos, I called him out, and I think now I’m closing in on getting that fight,” said Hitchins to Kellerman. “Because I feel like after these next few performances I put on, the fans are going to be calling to see me versus Devin Haney, me versus Ryan Garcia, and all the best guys. All three of them can get it. It don’t matter.”

The Q&A took place on Friday at the Kaseya Center in Miami ahead of UFC 327 ceremonial weigh-ins, part of Zuffa Boxing’s early push after signing Hitchins and Edgar Berlanga as it prepares to launch its boxing schedule.

Zuffa has not announced Hitchins’ debut opponent or date. The promotion operates under TKO Group Holdings, with backing tied to Sela, giving it the financial capacity to pursue major fights involving names such as Haney, Lopez, and Garcia if those bouts are advanced.

Earlier fight plans this year, including a proposed bout against Keyshawn Davis, did not move forward, leaving his next appearance under the new banner still to be finalized.

Tyson Fury is approaching his April 11 fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov with the intensity of a title bout while showing improved form in camp, according to training partner Joseph Parker.

Fury, 37, enters the fight following recent losses and mixed performances in his last three outings, placing added attention on his preparation for the Makhmudov bout as he returns to the ring.

“Tyson works hard, he really does,” Parker told the Daily Mail. “He’s taking this fight very seriously, to the point where it’s like he’s preparing as if he’s fighting a world champion.”

Parker spent several weeks training with Fury in Thailand after initially planning a shorter stay. He extended his time in camp after Fury asked him to remain, allowing for a longer stretch of sparring and preparation.

Training sessions were held at the ISS Boxing & Muay Thai facility, where Fury based himself during camp. During that time, Parker said Fury’s overall condition stood out.

“I know everyone always says this, that it’s the best Tyson Fury we’ve seen in a long time, but I can truly say this is the best I’ve seen him in a long time,” Parker said.

Fury is preparing to face Makhmudov, a heavyweight known for his physical strength and pressure style. Parker said the tone of this camp has been steady, with no reported injuries affecting preparation.

“I know he trained hard for the Usyk fights, but being in this camp, having no injuries going into a fight, there’s something about that which really helps mentally,” Parker said.

Parker’s comments centered on Fury’s work in camp, while his appearance at the weigh-in drew mixed reactions from observers.

“So I feel like everyone wants to see the best, but you’ll just have to wait and see,” Parker said.

Fury faces Makhmudov on April 11.

“I don’t know. I’m just cruising probably through 35, 40. I really don’t want to fight 40, but then it’s like I do want to show,” Shakur said to Fred VanVleet. “It just depends on what all makes sense.”

Stevenson indicated he is weighing options across both weight classes rather than locking into one direction. He also made clear that he will not publicly call out specific opponents at this stage.

“I can’t call nobody out. They gonna clip it,” Shakur said.

At lightweight, Shakur has previously expressed interest in facing Lamont Roach, who is positioned to fight William Zepeda for the vacant WBC title. That result could determine one possible route at 135, though no fight involving Stevenson has been finalized.

Elsewhere in the division, no agreement is in place for bouts with Gervonta Davis, while other contenders such as Abdullah Mason and Raymond Muratalla remain without confirmed ties to Shakur’s next move.

At 140, Stevenson acknowledged the presence of strong fighters but did not identify a specific target.

“It’s some good fighters at 35, and it’s some good fighters at 40,” Shakur said. “It just depends on what all makes sense.”

The 140-pound division includes Gary Antuanne Russell, Richardson Hitchins, Oscar Duarte and Keyshawn Davis, but Shakur has not identified any of them as his next opponent.

Stevenson’s recent bouts took place on major platforms, but there is no word yet on whether his potential 140-pound opponents would receive that same level of backing.

His flexibility keeps both weight classes as options, though his next move remains a mystery until a specific opponent or date is confirmed.

At Friday’s weigh-in in London, Prograis came in at 148 lbs, with Benn slightly heavier at 149½. The numbers were close, but the discussion around physical advantages had already built throughout the week, driven by Benn’s recent run at higher weights.

Prograis dismissed that angle outright when asked about the matchup.

“Everybody was trying to make out that he’s this big bad guy, but we’re literally the same size,” Prograis said. “I have the better resume. I have the better skills.”

That response moves the focus away from physical differences and toward experience. Prograis, a former two-time champion, pointed to his time at the top level as the deciding factor, while questioning whether Benn has faced comparable opposition.

“Conor Benn’s not shown us anything yet at a world-class level. So, this is a step up for him,” he said.

Benn, who has campaigned as high as middleweight in recent bouts, said the weight cut was manageable and even suggested he could go lower in the future. The fight, scheduled for 10 rounds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and broadcast on Netflix, now carries a different emphasis.

The face-off suggested something different. Standing face-to-face, Prograis, 37, looked the smaller man, with Benn appearing broader through the shoulders and thicker across the frame even before rehydration. The difference was noticeable on stage, not subtle.

That difference is expected to widen once the fight begins. Benn, 29, has been operating at higher weights in recent bouts and is likely to come in significantly heavier on fight night, potentially pushing into the 170-pound range.

That would give him a clear physical edge in strength and durability, something Prograis will have to deal with beyond experience and skill.

Size is no longer the focus. The question is whether Benn can match a fighter who believes the difference comes down to levels.