Crolla’s Column: Showman Fury back on the box
The Tyson Fury show is back on Netflix, and I reckon we’re going to see all the fun and showmanship you’d expect, along with a top performance in the ring.
I know the ‘Gypsy King’ has another documentary series about his family life about to come out, but I’m only really concerned with Fury the fighter.
The former world champ hasn’t boxed since his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024, but nobody really believed he’d walk away from the sport as he said he would. He’s already had a few comebacks, but I think Arslanbek Makhmudov is the perfect opponent to welcome him back from his latest retirement.
I’ve been hearing great things about how Tyson is looking in camp. He is 37 now, but he appears to be in decent physical and mental shape, and it all bodes well for him to put the big man from Dagestan in his place.
As we know, Tyson has fantastic movement for his size, and I can see him using his feet to touch, pick and poke Makhmudov. I reckon in the second half of the fight Tyson will step it up; he’ll start sitting on his shots, and I believe he will stop Makhmudov - a man who has actually wrestled a bear!
It will be interesting. Obviously, he has had a long time out of the ring, but I think this opponent is perfect for Tyson. I expect him to prove he is still one of the best heavyweights in the world, although we can’t read too much into it.
The landscape has changed a little bit since he last boxed, but the fight that is still there for him is obviously Anthony Joshua. I think it’s all about him and Joshua. Put it this way, I don’t think anyone is genuinely talking about Tyson fighting Moses Itauma!
Let’s face it, Fury and AJ may well be a retirement fight, but it’s certainly one that we’ll hear a lot more about if, as I expect, Tyson does the business at the weekend.
Chief support at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium is Conor Benn against former world super-lightweight champion Regis Prograis. There’s been an awful lot of attention on Conor recently after his split from Matchroom and Eddie Hearn, but I don’t think any of that will affect him on Saturday.
At this point, Conor is too fresh for 37-year-old Prograis. Conor is also coming down in weight after boxing Eubank at middleweight. Boxing in and around welterweight will suit him.
As far as the American is concerned, he certainly gave a good account of himself against Jack Catterall, but that was a while ago and I think he’d half retired after that!
Regis has been a very good fighter, and if you’d asked me for a prediction a few years ago, it’d be different to my opinion now. Benn will be too fresh – it’s just a matter of does he win on points or stop Prograis late? I think he’ll get to him and force a stoppage in the second half of the fight.
Also on the undercard is a fight I am really excited about – arguably the pick of bill. Jamie TKV v Richard Riakpohre is fascinating. Riakpohre was a very big cruiserweight so it will definitely suit him to move up to heavyweight where he’ll add a bit of muscle. He’s also teamed up with Billy Nelson who is a very good coach and always has his fighters well organised.
Jamie also has a very good team around him and is coming off a great win over Fraser Clarke. It’s such a tough one to call, but one thing I’m fairly sure of is that this will be fight of the night. It’s not with great confidence, but I think I’m just leaning towards Jamie nicking a close points win.
Meanwhile, Jamie’s former foe Fraser is also in action and I’m sure he’ll be a big underdog against Justis Huni. You have to remember, Huni was beating Fabio Wardley very well until big Fab pulled out a monstrous shot! But for that, Huni could be a world champion right now.
I’ve heard Fraser’s looking great in camp, and he’s made a few changes, but I believe that the Kiwi is very talented, and I think given the chance, he would beat most of the leading heavyweights in the world at this moment.
To sum this one up, I think Fraser will have bits of success, but Huni will box his way to a points win.
To make the most of Tyson Fury's return to the ring this weekend, check out our latest betting offers and free bets.
