PROMOTER DEMANDS ANTHONY JOSHUA STICK TO RUSSIAN FIGHT COMMITMENT
Promoter Frank Warren is pushing Anthony Joshua to fulfil a pledge to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov. Warren says the bout "makes a lot of sense" as a warm-up before a potential Tyson Fury blockbuster.
One of heavyweight boxing's biggest villains has supported Anthony Joshua to fulfil a pre-fight pledge.
Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has been connected to a long list of possible bouts but has not yet scheduled his comeback to the ring.
The Watford star was given a new update on his future this week, suggesting that he might make a comeback earlier than anticipated. He was originally scheduled to compete at the start of next year.
Joshua has been persuaded to fulfil a pre-fight pledge to a tall Russian star, though, following a successful weekend in his class.
Arslanbek Makhmudov should have a comeback fight, according to Anthony Joshua.
During his absence, Joshua was linked to nearly every heavyweight bout imaginable, and it appears that he pledged to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov when he returns.
Additionally, Joshua appears to be missing out on a headlining for the first fight in more than a decade, according to Eddie Hearn, the leader of Matchroom Boxing, who just provided an update on his future.
Another British promoter has pushed Joshua to keep his word to fight Makhmudov, hoping the Olympian will land a few warm-up bouts before facing Tyson Fury in a possible summer blockbuster next year.
"They (Arslanbek Makhmudov and Anthony Joshua) have the same promoter," Frank Warren said to IFL TV. Eddie advertised last week's battle [with Dave Allen].
Regarding the matchup, Warren stated, "If they can get it together, it makes a lot of sense. We will wait and find out."
When Anthony Joshua defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov, the star called him out.
Russian sensation Makhmudov, who had only lost twice in his professional career, was left in a bloated mess following the second of those losses.
In a heavyweight decider that same summer, Makhmudov was matched up against Guido Vianello, an unknown Italian, who stopped him in the eighth round.
Vianello wants to face the former world champion next, citing his previous victory over the 6'5" berserker.
Following his victory over the weekend, Vianello declared, "Let us fight wherever you want—in Rome, the Colosseum, London, wherever you want." But since I am 31, please give me a well-known name. I want to win right away; I do not have any more time.
DISCOVER THE STUNNING DETAILS BEHIND THE "AGREED" TYSON FURY VS ANTHONY JOSHUA 2026 DEAL
Anthony Joshua eyes a summer return after recovering from a tragic car crash, setting up a late-year clash with Tyson Fury.
Tyson Fury's coming back to the ring on April 11, 2026. He’s taking on Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the fight's streaming on Netflix. It'll be his first match since losing twice to Oleksandr Usyk; the last one was their rematch in December 2024.
After that defeat, Fury retired. He didn’t stay away for long, though 15 months later, he’s jumping back in. He's still thinking about making moves outside boxing. He’s talked about fighting former UFC champ Jon Jones and shared some thoughts about where his career might go.
In a chat with SPORTbible, he opened up about picking Makhmudov, what drives him, and what the future might look like.
Fury’s Reason for Choosing Makhmudov and the Joshua Fight Everyone Wants
Fury made this fight happen for a reason. Makhmudov packs serious power; he’s got 19 knockouts in 23 pro fights. Fury wanted to face someone tough.
“It takes someone of that calibre,” Fury said.
Makhmudov lost to Guido Vianello and Agit Kabayel but bounced back with wins over Ricardo Brown and David Allen.
If Fury wins, all eyes go right back to that long-hyped fight with Anthony Joshua. Joshua’s also planning a comeback this summer, at least according to Matchroom Boxing’s Frank Smith.
“If the fight can be made, let’s get it on like Donkey Kong,” Fury said.
He hasn’t talked to Joshua yet, though.
“I’ve had no contact with him at all.”
Fury Isn’t Done, And He’s Not Sure He Ever Will Be
Even though Fury keeps talking about retirement, he says boxing is still at the heart of everything.
“My true love’s always been boxing, and it’s always been my passion,” he said.
“So until it’s not any more… then I can go into full-time TV doing Netflix and s***.”
Does he need to fight? Not really. He does it for the thrill, not for the cash or fame.
“I’m in a position where I don’t need to box. I don’t need to do anything. I could drink beer all day if I wanted to. But I’m not interested. I like boxing. I’ve always liked boxing.”
He figures he’ll stick around for years yet.
“I’ll probably continue to do it well into my late 40s. It’s just something that I’ve been in love with. I’ve tried to get away from it so many times, and I’ve been unsuccessful. It’s an addiction. Boxing’s an addiction.”
MMA, the Jones Fight, and Who Knows What’s Next
Fury looked into mixed martial arts plenty of times.
“I’ve tried to do it about ten times,” he said.
But things just never lined up, at least not yet.
“For one reason or another, it hasn’t happened. [It would take] the right amount of money. But it always takes cold, hard cash, baby.”
He’s got his eye on Jon Jones, maybe. The former UFC champ could be next on Fury’s wild ride.
“You never know,” Fury said. “Anyone can beat anybody on any day. Nothing’s impossible, is it?”
EDDIE HEARN ADMITS AUSTIN WILLIAMS CANNOT OUTBOX WBC CHAMPION CARLOS ADAMES
Austin Ammo Williams faces a life-changing chance Saturday as Hearn plots a late-round breakdown of Carlos Adames.
Eddie Hearn isn’t trying to convince anyone that Austin “Ammo” Williams is a better boxer than Carlos Adames. He’s not pitching skill or finesse; he’s talking about grit. If Williams is going to win the WBC middleweight title on Saturday, it won’t be by outboxing Adames. Hearn’s hoping his guy drags Adames into the late rounds, toughs it out, and breaks him down physically.
Here’s the approach: Williams needs to pressure Adames, stay close, and make it ugly. A straightforward boxing match pretty much goes to Adames. So, Williams has to turn it into a dogfight.
“You just got to be a dog in there. You’ve got to hang with him, find a way, and try to combat the skill,” Hearn told DAZN Boxing. “You’ve got to try and trade with him, beat him up on the inside. You just have to not give in and find a way to break him.”
That’s the plan. Hearn figures the real shift probably happens late in the bout, maybe round nine, ten, or eleven, when toughness matters more than clean boxing or early dominance. Williams has to withstand as much punishment as he dishes out, keep pushing, and hope Adames finally breaks.
Hearn’s honesty actually tells you everything. “I don’t think Ammo is going to go in there and outbox Carlos Adames,” he said. He’s not pretending Williams is the slicker guy or has more tools. The path is straightforward: close the gap, trade shots, wear Adames down.
Still, Hearn sees a life-changing opportunity if Williams manages to pull it off. “If Ammo can become a middleweight world champion, he changes his life forever. The opportunity sits right in front of him on Saturday,” he said.
No doubt, Saturday’s a big chance. But it’s a rough road. If all you’ve got is to “find a way” through a gruelling fight, it usually means the champ has the edge when the boxing gets clean.
