Tyson Fury return venue confirmed as Old Trafford dream is denied

Tyson Fury will face Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 11 April, marking his return to the ring after plans for an Old Trafford homecoming were scuppered.

The Gypsy King is aiming to rebuild his career following consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.

Hopes of a fairytale return at Manchester United’s home ground were dashed due to a fixture clash.

The Premier League giants are scheduled to face Leeds United on the same date, rendering the Theatre of Dreams unavailable.

With Tottenham Hotspur travelling to Sunderland that weekend, the north London venue became available to host the heavyweight contest.

A difficult test against ‘The Lion’

Standing in Fury’s way is Arslanbek Makhmudov, a giant Russian heavyweight currently based in Canada.

The 36-year-old boasts a formidable record of 21 wins from 23 fights, with 19 victories coming by way of knockout.

However, the puncher has shown vulnerability recently, having been stopped in defeats by Guido Vianello and Agit Kabayel.

Despite recent setbacks, Makhmudov remains confident of upsetting the odds.

I am thrilled about the opportunity. 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.

Arslanbek Makhmudov

Netflix debut and future ambitions

This bout marks the former two-time world champion’s first fight to be broadcast on Netflix.

It follows the filming of the second season of his reality series, At Home with the Furies, which is set for release this spring.

Fury has outlined an ambitious plan to fight three times this year as he looks to re-establish himself as a major force in the division.

“Well it’s official im back doing what i [love] to do,” Fury stated on social media.

“I’ve brought the biggest network along with me… this is going to be astronomical.”

The road to Anthony Joshua

The April contest is viewed as a warm-up for a potential blockbuster clash with Anthony Joshua later in the year.

However, uncertainty surrounds Joshua’s timeline following a tragic car accident in Nigeria involving his team.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has stated that the Watford fighter will not be rushed back into the ring.

Should the Joshua fight be delayed, WBO champion Fabio Wardley has emerged as another potential opponent for a summer showdown.

Wardley must first navigate a defence against Daniel Dubois in May.