Dillian Whyte views Arslanbek Makhmudov as an exceptionally risky opponent for Tyson Fury’s much-anticipated return to the boxing ring.
Fury is set to end a 16-month hiatus from competitive boxing, stepping back into action against Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11.
Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, Makhmudov presents an imposing figure and has proven his formidable punching power with 19 knockouts across his 21 professional victories, suffering only two defeats.
Initially, Whyte, who himself faced a sixth-round stoppage by Fury in their 2022 WBC title bout, admitted his first thought was that it would be an “easy fight” for Fury.
However, after a closer review of Makhmudov’s fighting style, Whyte revised his opinion: “After going back and watching Makhmudov, I said, OK, he’s a tough guy, he’s coming off a couple of good wins, and he’s a big puncher.”
Whyte highlighted that Fury would likely lose some of his customary height and reach advantage against Makhmudov, an aspect that has been crucial throughout his career. This factor, according to Whyte, promises a “very interesting fight.”
“It’s a very, very dangerous fight for Fury,” Whyte stressed. “Most boxing fans will say it’s an easy fight for Fury, but I don’t think it’s an easy fight.” He further cautioned, “Fury has also been put down a couple of times by guys he shouldn’t have been put down by and Makhmudov can punch a lot harder, so let’s see.”
Looking ahead to his own career, Whyte anticipates resuming boxing in the coming months and has recently been mentioned in discussions for a potential rematch with Anthony Joshua.
“I would love that fight,” Whyte stated. “Me and AJ have history – we always have a good fight. Win, lose, or draw, it’ll always be a good fight. But let’s see.”
Whyte acknowledged that Joshua would likely prefer to face Tyson Fury, especially considering both fighters’ career stages and limited remaining fights. “He’d rather fight Fury than fight me, but if they offer me a fight, I’ll take it,” Whyte affirmed. “I want to fight the best guys – it’s what I’ve done my whole career, and I’ll continue to do this until the day I retire.”
At 37 years old, Whyte maintains an ardent desire to compete against top-tier opponents and is keen to “redeem himself” following his unexpected early defeat to Moses Itauma last August.
“I just take it day by day – in fact, fight by fight,” Whyte explained. “A lot of people were saying I should retire after the last fight, but I feel all right, I feel good.” He added, “A lot of guys retire too early, a lot of guys retire too late, so I just take it fight by fight and listen to the advice of my team and my friends and family. They know me better than I know myself.”
Whyte concluded by expressing his unwavering motivation: “Every day I wake up so motivated to go to the gym, with or without a fight. I still feel good, I still have that drive and that aggression in me.” He hinted at undisclosed issues leading up to his last bout: “Obviously, a few people were baffled by the last fight, but a lot of things happened in camp. I’m not going to go into it, but a lot happened in camp. I want to redeem myself and show people that that wasn’t me that night.”