Tyson Fury set to earn staggering amount for boxing comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov

Jack Otway
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:50:22 +0000

Tyson Fury is poised to pocket a reported £18.8million for his return to boxing when he faces Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 37-year-old Gypsy King has been absent from the ring since suffering back-to-back losses to Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk last year.

Rather than pursuing a highly anticipated showdown with Anthony Joshua, Britain's other heavyweight star, Fury has opted to take on the dangerous Makhmudov.

The Russian enters the contest boasting a formidable 21-2 record, with an impressive 19 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

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Standing at an imposing six feet six inches tall, Makhmudov has earned the nickname "Bond villain" due to his menacing appearance.

The Russian fighter is renowned for his unconventional training methods, including wrestling bears and striking his abdominal muscles with a sledgehammer.

His fearsome reputation extends throughout British boxing circles, with heavyweight Dave Allen previously confessing he is "s**t scared" of the hard-hitting contender.

Despite Makhmudov's intimidating credentials, Fury remains confident he possesses the skills to halt the Russian's momentum, with a substantial financial reward awaiting him should he succeed in his comeback bout.

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While the official fight purse has yet to be confirmed, the reported £18.8m represents a considerable reduction from Fury's previous earnings.

The Mancunian is understood to have collected approximately £85m for his initial encounter with Usyk in 2024.

That figure was dwarfed by the rematch later that same year, when the two heavyweight titans shared a combined purse of £150m.

Fury has made clear his intentions to deliver a devastating performance against Makhmudov, declaring his desire for a "brutal knockout" to demonstrate his return to form.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Gypsy King explained his approach: "It's just doing what I already did in the past but bringing different stuff back to life that I haven't been doing lately if a 37-year-old Tyson Fury can do what a 27-year-old Tyson Fury did back in the day.

"And so I'm really putting things together, honestly.

"I want a brutal knockout over Makhmudov.

"It's going to be fun."