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ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV EMERGES AS FRONTRUNNER FOR TYSON FURY’S SUMMER RETURN

Tyson Fury is back! The "Gypsy King" confirms his 2026 return from Thailand, firing back at body shamers and eyeing Makhmudov.

Arslanbek Makhmudov emerges as frontrunner for Tyson Fury’s summer return
Fury confirms 2026 comeback fight and breaks silence on retirement

Tyson Fury wants back in the ring—and soon. He’s aiming to fight again within the next three months.

Earlier this year, Fury said he was done with boxing after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk. But just six months later, he flipped the script and announced he’s coming back, eyeing a fight in 2026. Fans were caught off guard, but honestly, that’s classic Fury.

Right now, he’s in Thailand, grinding away in training. He’s even been working out with Kevin Lerena, the current WBC bridgerweight champ. As Fury ramps up for his return, critics on social media haven’t held back, taking shots at his physique every chance they get.

But Fury isn’t the type to ignore the noise. He jumped on Instagram Friday morning to talk about his comeback—and to fire back at the haters. “Real talk. I’m dead serious about coming back. I’m the uncrowned king. 2026 is the return of the MAC,” he posted. Then he added, “Just chilling before my second session today.”

He’s not taking this lightly. “I’ve seen the comments. People are saying I look big, chubby, and fat. Welcome to my world. I’ve always had a belly. Beat everyone with it. Never made a difference before, so why should it now?” he said, brushing off the trolls. “I’m at about 20 stone right now; maybe I’ll drop under 19 for the comeback. I feel loose, fast, and excited. It’s been a while, but I’m back. Took a year off, and if I fight in the first quarter, I’ll have been out nearly 16 months. That’s a long break for a 37-year-old—turning 38 this year. Let’s see if I’ve still got it.”

With Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh making waves in the sport, people started speculating about Fury’s motives. He set the record straight in another post, saying money isn’t what’s driving him. “I’ve won everything—regional belts, world titles, Fighter of the Year twice, Ring Magazine twice, WBC, you name it. There’s nothing left for me except the fight itself. I love this sport. Money’s not it, though I still want a good deal. It’s about the love of boxing. I’m almost 38, older than dirt, but fighting is all I care about. I’ve got no other interests.”

He didn’t stop there. “I was born to fight. It’s my destiny. At the end of it, I’ll probably end up in a wheelchair like the rest, not knowing what day it is, but that’s the life I chose. We’re not stopping. We’re not leaving.”

Now, Fury’s gearing up for a comeback fight this summer. Arslanbek Makhmudov, the 6’6” heavyweight who last fought David Allen in October, looks like a real possibility for his opponent. Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, seems on board. Talking to Box Nation, he said, “Tyson’s smart. He knows what he wants and how to get there. We’re discussing opponents, but he knows exactly what’s up. Maybe we’ll do the Makhmudov fight.”

ANALYSIS: RELENTLESS AGIT KABAYEL CRUSHES DAMIAN KNYBA IN THREE ROUNDS TO SIGNAL USYK WARNING

The Rudolf Weber Arena erupted as Agit Kabayel overcame a bloody cut to stop the "Polish Hussar" in a three-round thriller.

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Agit Kabayel just dismantled another undefeated heavyweight

The Rudolf Weber Arena was packed, and nobody left disappointed. Agit Kabayel tore through Damian Knyba in just three rounds, sending the crowd home buzzing.

Kabayel came in as the heavy favourite, but Knyba didn’t roll over. For two rounds, he made Kabayel work, landing some big shots and showing he was there to fight. But in the third, Kabayel just overwhelmed him. The Germans’ pressure was too much, and Knyba couldn’t keep him off.

Right from the opening bell, both guys wanted to make a statement. Knyba used his reach, slinging hooks and landing a huge uppercut late in the first. His long frame gave Kabayel a clear target, though, and Kabayel’s known for his body shots. Still, Knyba drew first blood, opening a cut over Kabayel’s right eye.

Knyba seemed fired up. He kept Kabayel at range, pumping out jabs and circling away, making life tough for the favourite. Kabayel struggled to work around Knyba’s reach.

But in the third, things changed. Kabayel got that look—steady, relentless. Knyba started to fade, and Kabayel went to work. He opened a cut by Knyba’s left eye, hammered the body, and just poured it on. Knyba looked spent after a shot to the ribs, then took a series of rights before the ref stepped in.

Now Kabayel is 27-0 with 19 knockouts and holding the WBC interim belt. He’s got options. Lawrence Okolie, the WBC’s top contender, watched from ringside, eager for a shot. But Kabayel’s eyes are on Oleksandr Usyk and the full title. Knyba drops to 17-1 (11 KOs).

Afterwards, Kabayel soaked in the moment. “It’s unbelievable; look at the crowd. So many people came to support me,” he said, grinning. “Every fight in Germany. Let’s go.”

The fans wanted Usyk next

“I waited so long for this title opportunity; I beat three monsters in the Riyadh Season—Makhmudov, Zhang, and Sanchez. Give me the world title fight. I’m ready.”

When someone asked if Usyk could be tempted to Germany for a stadium fight, Kabayel’s manager, Spencer Brown, didn’t hesitate. “I think we can, yes.”

JESSE BAM RODRIGUEZ ENTERS FREE AGENCY FOLLOWING MASSIVE RIYADH KNOCKOUT WIN

Jesse Bam Rodriguez targets an undisputed status after knocking out Martínez. Hear why Eddie Hearn expects him to stay at Matchroom.

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Bam Rodriguez is already the pound-for-pound king of his generation

Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez just keeps climbing. Right now, he’s the lineal and unified super flyweight champ, and his last fight showed why. On November 22, 2025, in Riyadh, he stepped into the ring against the tough WBA champion Fernando Martínez (18-1, 9 KOs). Bam boxed smart, moved beautifully, and made Martínez miss all night. By the 10th round, he was still in total control, and then he finished it—caught Martínez with a counter left hook and dropped him hard. Martínez couldn’t get up, and that was it. Bam added the WBA belt to his WBC and WBO collection.

Now, word’s out—Bam’s a promotional free agent. Eddie Hearn talked to Rob Tebbutt at the Sportsman to clear things up about Bam’s contract.

Hearn explained, “We’ve got some matching and negotiation options on him, but honestly, I’m not too worried. We’re working with Robert Garcia and Jesse to go after the undisputed championship. There’s a lot going on—the IBF belt and Willibaldo Garcia, who just pulled out of a fight, and now he has to face Maloney. So, there’s a bit of a mess to sort out. We have to keep Maloney happy, Bam happy, and Willibaldo Garcia happy—it’s tricky, but we want to do something big for Bam at the Alamodome. Sure, things can change, but I see Bam sticking with Matchroom for the rest of his career.”

Hearn didn’t hide how much Bam means to the team: “He’s huge for us, personally and as a business. We’ve looked after him and paid him well—he’s earned every bit of it. The new deal on the table is big money. He’s one of the top fighters in the sport.”

Is Bam moving up to 118 soon? Hearn said, “Maybe. If he doesn’t get the undisputed fight, he’ll move up. The thing is, Maloney’s about to fight Garcia for not much money, but he could be on the undercard, make a nice payday, and get a guaranteed shot at the winner. Sometimes you have to put the emotion aside and just make the right business move.”

Matchroom has done right by Jesse Bam Rodriguez so far, and Hearn sounds pretty sure they’re not done yet.

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