Jolly Fury takes aim at heavyweight rivals & even Spurs

Briton Tyson Fury delivered typically theatrical monologue as he took aim at opponent Arslanbek Makhmudov, rival heavyweights and even a struggling Premier League club.

Heavyweight Fury will face the Russian at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday in his first fight for 16 months.

There was plenty of mutual respect when the two heavyweights faced the media, but Fury - boxing's consummate showman - eventually delivered the headline-grabbing moment the room had been waiting for.

"Sooner or later these so-called alphabetical world champions are going to have to fight me. They will be hunted and destroyed. Who will they face for money? I'm the money man," he said.

"Whoever has the belts will be on their knees begging me by the end of the year. This is my sixth stadium fight back-to-back. Who has done that before? ChatGPT said no one.

"I am going to make an example of him. He is a big six-foot-seven lump. I will knock his head right off his two shoulders. He is fighting the great Tyson Fury."

Fury, 37, briefly retired a month after his second defeat by Oleksandr Usyk, but announced his return earlier this year.

The two-time world champion has not fought in Britain since December 2022, when he stopped Derek Chisora at this weekend's fight venue to retain the WBC title.

"I've been out in Saudi Arabia but to come back to England and fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - let's hope I do better than Tottenham because they've been rubbish recently," he quipped.

One lingering question concerns Fury's training team. The Morecambe fighter has previously said he would train himself but long-time trainer SugarHill Steward was in attendance, although Fury insisted the American was there only for "moral support".

The grin on Fury's face suggested Steward is likely to appear in the corner on fight night.

The face-off ended in good spirits. Makhmudov even lifted Fury off the ground as a joke before the pair shared an embrace.

Bears, phones & Fury taking centre stage

Image caption,

Arslanbek Makhmudov - who has won 21 fights and lost two - jokingly lifted Tyson Fury at the face-off

A smiling Fury made his entrance in typical fashion - dancing onto the stage and playing to the crowd before crossing immediately to shake Makhmudov's hand.

There has been little animosity between the pair during fight week. Fury even blew a kiss at his opponent during a promotional appearance earlier in the week.

The news conference itself felt at times like a rerun of the media event when the fight was first revealed. Makhmudov rarely engaged in any back-and-forth despite the host's attempts to spark a war of words.

Makhmudov spent most of the time glancing at his phone, drawing criticism from heavyweight great Lennox Lewis who was part of the TV broadcast.

The 36-year-old did address one unusual training method – wrestling a bear. "But I don't want to try this anymore because it was so scary," he added.

Eventually, Fury - whose record stands at 34 wins from 37 fights, with 24 knockouts, alongside two defeats and one draw - seized the spotlight. He described himself as "speedy, skilful, handsome and destructive".

"I've never lost my speed of reactions. I've still got it – 100%," he added. "I'm looking for as good a performance as it can be after 16 months out. I must have done 500 rounds of sparring to prepare."

The 'Gypsy King' later wandered over to join the broadcast team, where he could be heard shouting: "I'm on top of the world, baby."

Why Netflix?

Media caption,

'I was sick of the boxing game and I needed time away' - Tyson Fury on returning to the ring

Those close to the negotiations say the fight is not the biggest payday of Fury's career - that honour remains his first bout with Ukranian Usyk - but the former heavyweight champion was keen to return to the ring for his own wellbeing.

Fury arrived wearing a custom suit branded with Netflix colours. The card is a significant moment for the streaming giant which - with its 325 million global subscribers - continues its move into boxing with its first show from the United Kingdom.

The platform has dipped into the sport through occasional blockbuster events rather than a regular schedule - most recently Anthony Joshua's victory over Jake Paul in Miami, but also including the controversial bout between Paul and Mike Tyson, the historic meetings between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, and the super-fight between Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence Crawford.

Fury's appearance also forms part of a wider entertainment offering that includes the second series of 'At Home With the Furys', which drops on Sunday and gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the heavyweight's life outside of the ring.

For Netflix, the bigger prize could be the long-awaited showdown between Fury and Joshua - a fight years in the making but still one of the sport's most lucrative possibilities. Fury has said Joshua is the opponent he wants next, with Dublin's Croke Park being touted as a possible venue in September.