Arslanbek Makhmudov is out of his depth against Tyson Fury according to Jamie Moore, the trainer who oversaw Makhmudov’s victory over David Allen.
It was the win over the popular Allen that led to Makhmudov being matched with Fury, 37, on Saturday at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in what represents Fury’s first fights since his only defeats.
The loss to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024 was Fury’s second in succession and the second inflicted by the Ukrainian. Both were competitive contests but how much remains of the desire and ability that defined Fury at his peak remains unclear.
Makhmudov, 36 and of Russia, has been selected as a marketable and high-profile opponent instead of one intended to truly test Fury – who continues to be linked to an overdue, lucrative fight with his fellow Englishman Anthony Joshua – and Moore, having prepared Allen to fight Makhumdov in a fight that lasted the full 12 rounds in October 2025, believes that Makhmudov’s only chance of success lies in the possibility that Fury has vastly declined.
The Russian has previously lost to the admired Agit Kabayel and Guido Vianello, and there is little question that on the nights he fought Usyk, Fury was a considerable more complete fighter than both. Moore – who also trained Carl Frampton when Frampton shared a promotion with Fury when Fury’s previous comeback ahead of the first date with Deontay Wilder began – ultimately believes that he is too one-dimensional to succeed.
“I don’t really think he’s got anything in his locker to trouble Fury – if Fury’s Fury,” Moore, who so recently led Chantelle Cameron to the WBO junior-middleweight title, told BoxingScene. “If Fury’s got old overnight and he’s just playing at this now and doing it, not to secure his family but his great, great grandkids, then Makhmudov’s a big, strong dangerous fighter. But if Tyson Fury’s anything like he was two or three years ago, then I don’t think he gets anywhere near him.
“His power; his tenacity; he’s got the tendency to shy away from a fight when he gets into deep waters. But Dave just didn’t have it in his tank to sustain it. He had it in his tank to give him problems, it just wasn’t sustainable – which is a shame because he has the talent to be able to beat someone like Makhmudov. I just feel like Fury’s all wrong for him in terms of dimensions and skill set.
“Makhmudov’s downfall is his ring IQ. He relies, totally, on that one-punch knockout power. He doesn’t really use anything in terms of a jab or the set up to try and set traps; maybe make you mistakes; he just goes in there one-track minded, and Fury, certainly, is a three-or-four dimensional type of fighter.
“If Fury’s gone anything like what he had before I don’t think [Makhmudov] will get anywhere near him.
“I think Fury will stop him. Maybe in six, seven rounds.”
