London: Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury marked his latest return to the ring with a unanimous points win over Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday before immediately challenging Anthony Joshua to a ‘Battle of Britain’ super fight.
Two-time former world champion Fury, back after a 16-month absence, won 120-108 on two of the judges’ scorecards, with the other ruling he had defeated his Russian opponent 119-109 after the maximum 12 rounds.
Makhmudov made a strong start to the first round at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, throwing a left and connecting with an overhand right. But by the third round Makhmudov was already showing signs of fatigue, with Fury switching stances and hitting a one-two off the Russian’s chin.
The fight, watched by Joshua at ringside, continued in similar fashion until the final bell. ury, who had walked out to the tune Blue Moon in honour of the late Ricky Hatton, who died in September, leaned over the ropes and invited Joshua into the ring after the bout.
Joshua refused but the two former world heavyweight champions exchanged words and Fury, 37, was pulled back by the referee before the result was announced. After his victory had been confirmed, Fury, out of retirement for a fifth time, said: “I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me next. Do you accept?”
Fury, in his first fight since successive defeats to unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk, and now with a professional record of 35 wins, two losses and one draw, added: “Let’s give the fight fans what they want.
“Do not run from me this time. Ten years in the making. Let’s dance.” Joshua, 36, did not reply immediately but eventually said: “I punched you up when we were kids and I’ll punch you up again. “You aren’t going to tell me what to do, I’ve been chasing you for 10 years.
