Tyson Fury’s next opponent, Arslanbek Makhmudov, has drawn attention after footage showed him wrestling a real bear as part of his training.
Tyson Fury is scheduled to return to the ring on April 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against the Russian heavyweight.
In the buildup to the contest, video resurfaced of Makhmudov grappling with a bear during a previous camp. The unusual preparation method quickly became a talking point ahead of the heavyweight clash.
Makhmudov turned to bear wrestling as mental challenge
The 36-year-old, who owns a 21-2 professional record with 19 knockouts, previously incorporated the stunt while preparing for a title fight.
Footage showed him locking up with the animal, engaging in grappling exchanges, and even placing it in a headlock. Back in September, Makhmudov explained why he chose to take the risk.
“It started with a friend asking me if I wanted to wrestle a bear, and I said, ‘Of course.’ It was very scary, for sure. It’s an animal, so it’s literally wild, but I took it as a test because I always like to be challenged.”
“I promise my mother not to do wrestling with bears. Because you have to understand this is very dangerous.”
In a social media caption accompanying the clip, he wrote, “3 meter tall and 400kg weight MONSTR! Many people think he’s probably crazy since he’s fighting a bear?!”
“Yes, it’s crazy, I agree! But even madness is justified when you pursue good goals, and the goal was to overcome the threshold of fear and learn to control yourself in critical situations!”
Fury prepares for comeback bout in London
Fury, 37, will compete for the first time since December 2024 following a short-lived retirement after his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
The former heavyweight champion is returning after 17 months away from the ring.
Makhmudov brings significant size and power into the matchup, standing between 6ft 6in and 6ft 7in and weighing around 261 pounds in his most recent outing.
With his knockout record and unconventional training methods making headlines, the April 11 fight presents a notable test as Fury resumes his career.
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