Breaking: Tyson Fury Ends Retirement for Netflix Showdown Against Arslanbek Makhmudov
Tyson Fury is coming out of retirement to face Russian knockout artist Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11, marking the former heavyweight champion’s return to British soil for the first time in nearly four years. The fight will stream live on Netflix globally at no additional cost to the platform’s 325 million subscribers.
Tyson Fury Announces Comeback Fight Against Knockout Artist Arslanbek Makhmudov
The announcement came from Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and owner of The Ring magazine, which will promote the event. This represents a historic moment for Netflix as its first-ever live broadcast from the United Kingdom.
Fury, 37, retired for the fifth time in January 2025 following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk in their undisputed heavyweight championship fights. The second defeat in December 2024 left Fury with a professional record of 34-2-1 with 24 knockouts. His latest retirement lasted less than a year before he confirmed his comeback earlier this month, posting on Instagram that 2026 would be “the year” for his return.
The British heavyweight has been training in Thailand with WBC bridgerweight champion Kevin Lerena in preparation for the bout. His return to a UK ring represents a significant homecoming, as his last fight on British soil was a sixth-round knockout victory over Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium in April 2022.
“We are happy that Tyson decided to come out of retirement for what should be an exciting heavyweight clash against Makhmudov,” Alalshikh said in a statement.
Makhmudov, 36, brings a formidable knockout record to the matchup. The Montreal-based fighter holds a 21-2 professional record with 19 knockouts, representing a 90 percent knockout ratio. Known by the nickname “Lion,” Makhmudov stands 6 feet 5.5 inches tall and has built his reputation as a devastating puncher throughout his career that began in December 2017.
The Russian-born heavyweight suffered his only two professional defeats in recent years, losing to Agit Kabayel by fourth-round technical knockout in December 2023 and to Guido Vianello by eighth-round stoppage in August 2024. However, he rebounded with a unanimous decision victory over David Allen in October 2025.
Netflix
Netflix Vice President of Sports Gabe Spitzer expressed enthusiasm about broadcasting Fury’s comeback. “I have long admired Tyson Fury as one of the most resilient and captivating boxers of his generation,” Spitzer said. “His career has been defined by beating the odds, and there is an undeniable electricity whenever he fights. We are incredibly excited to see him come out of retirement for this massive homecoming.”
The streaming platform has made significant moves into live sports programming over the past year. Netflix’s November 2024 boxing event featuring Jake Paul and Mike Tyson attracted 108 million viewers globally, making it the most-streamed sporting event in history. The platform also launched weekly WWE Raw programming in January 2025 as part of a reported $5 billion, 10-year deal.
The fight will be promoted by The Ring, which Alalshikh purchased from Oscar De La Hoya for $10 million in November 2024. Alalshikh has been a transformative figure in boxing, organizing high-profile events through the Riyadh Season festival and announcing plans for a new boxing promotion in partnership with TKO and Sela in March 2025.
The specific venue and undercard for the April 11 event will be announced in the coming weeks. Both fighters will embark on a multi-city press tour to promote the bout.
For Fury, the matchup represents another chapter in a career marked by dramatic comebacks and retirements. This will be his sixth return following a retirement announcement, continuing a pattern that has defined much of his professional life. Netflix is currently producing a feature-length documentary titled “FURY” that chronicles his journey, alongside a second season of the reality series “At Home With the Furys”.
Fury remains confident about his return. “Excited to be back,” he said. “Heart’s always been and always will be in boxing. Someone go tell the king that the ace is back.”
Makhmudov views the opportunity as his breakthrough moment. “I am thrilled about the opportunity,” he said. “I’m coming to deliver a War. Tyson Fury has been a big champion. I will be more ready than ever to leave with a massive W.”
The fight marks a pivotal moment for both fighters. For Fury, it represents an attempt to reclaim relevance in the heavyweight division after suffering the only two losses of his career. For Makhmudov, it offers a chance to announce himself on the world stage against one of the division’s most recognizable names.
