Trainer Gary Logan believes Arslanbek Makhmudov would make an entertaining return opponent for Tyson Fury, but the bout carries more risk than a typical rematch.
Logan shared his views in a short gym interview clip that circulated this week, pointing to Makhmudov’s size, power and forward pressure as elements that will force Fury to stay awake from the opening bell. The Russian-born heavyweight has been floated as a possible opponent as Fury considers his next move after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Makhmudov is not a standard tune up option. Now 36, he stands just over 6’5″ and regularly enters the ring above 260 pounds. This reduces the physical margin that Fury often enjoys and limits the effectiveness of tactics that have worked for him in the past. The leaning approach Fury used against Deontay Wilder relied on wearing opponents down. Makhmudov’s base and leg strength make this a much less reliable plan.
There is also the matter of style. Arslanbek Makhmudov fights close and throws heavy, club shots rather than looking from a distance. He doesn’t wait. He stepped forward and swung. For a fighter coming from time away from the ring, that kind of pressure can be unforgiving.
Fury’s recent mileage cannot be ignored either. Three fights with Wilder followed by two demanding fights with Usyk took their toll. Asking a 37-year-old Tyson Fury to absorb that kind of weight and power early in a comeback introduces real risk, regardless of name value.
Logan highlighted Fury’s advantages, especially at long range, calling him the best distance boxer in the division outside of Usyk. He suggested that Makhmudov would have little choice but to emerge, rather than creating a slow build.
“He won’t have to go looking for him,” Logan said in the interview with Sky Sports. “I think it will be a very entertaining fight.”
Entertaining, perhaps. Convenient, much less certain.
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Last updated on 13/01/2026
