The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London was buzzing with anticipation on April 11, 2026, as the city played host to one of the most stacked and dramatic boxing nights in recent memory. With a sold-out crowd of 62,000 and millions more watching on Netflix, the event delivered a string of high-stakes bouts, career-defining performances, and a few surprises that had fans on the edge of their seats until the very last bell.
Headlining the night was the much-awaited return of Tyson Fury. The 37-year-old Brit, coming back from a 15-month retirement and back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, stepped into the ring against Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov. Fury, lighter and sharper after 16 weeks of training in Thailand, showcased his signature ring IQ and technical prowess, outpointing Makhmudov over twelve rounds. The judges’ scorecards read 120-108, 120-108, and 119-109, all in favor of Fury, who improved to 35-2-1.
Despite Makhmudov’s reputation for early knockouts and his dangerous power, Fury controlled the tempo from the outset. He switched stances, peppered the Russian with counters, and, while Makhmudov landed a few looping rights—including a solid shot to Fury’s ear in the first—he never truly threatened the former champion. As the rounds ticked by, Fury’s confidence grew, and by the championship rounds, he was varying his attack, landing uppercuts and combinations while Makhmudov absorbed the punishment with resilience.
The real drama, however, unfolded after the final bell. Before the official scores were even announced, Fury turned towards ringside and called out his long-time rival, Anthony Joshua. "I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me next. Do you accept?" Fury declared, igniting the stadium. Joshua, who had been filming much of the fight from his seat, initially appeared reluctant, but the verbal sparring quickly escalated. Joshua fired back: "I punched you up when we were kids and I'll punch you up again. You aren't going to tell me what to do, I've been chasing you for 10 years. I'm the boss, you work for me. I'm the landlord. You work for me."
Fury, never one to back down, shot back: "You are next. You are getting knocked out. Believe it." The exchange, broadcast live to Netflix’s 325 million subscribers, has reignited hopes for a showdown that British boxing fans have clamored for over a decade. Joshua later told Netflix, "I have been at this table with him many times. In my heart, I'd fight Fury tomorrow, especially after watching that. There is not a problem fighting him." He added, "The contract will be sent over, we will go through the nitty gritty, and you will probably see us in the ring next, more than likely."
Joshua’s journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward. After defeating Jake Paul in December, he was involved in a tragic car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two friends. "I was in a serious incident maybe four months ago. I need to really check out what is going on with my return to the ring. But I'm here, keeping my eye on the game. I am not ducking anyone, there are just things in my life I need to tend to." Despite the setbacks, Joshua’s presence and willingness to engage Fury have set the stage for what could become one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.
Elsewhere on the card, Conor Benn made a thunderous debut under the Zuffa Boxing banner by defeating former two-time super lightweight champion Regis Prograis in a grueling 10-round catchweight fight at 150 pounds. All three judges scored it 98-92 for Benn, who improved to 25-1 and became the WBC mandatory challenger for welterweight champion Ryan Garcia. Benn’s relentless pressure, sharp jab, and heavy body work wore down Prograis, despite the latter’s valiant efforts and moments of success in the middle rounds. Benn overcame cuts over both eyes from an accidental headbutt and repeated clashes, showing both grit and tactical discipline. His $15 million one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing and the high-profile win on Netflix have positioned him for even bigger opportunities ahead.
The undercard featured its own share of fireworks and rising stars. Richard Riakporhe claimed the British Heavyweight Title with a dominant fifth-round TKO over Jeamie TKV. Riakporhe’s speed, power, and a punishing right uppercut proved too much for TKV, whose nose was bloodied early and who struggled to keep up with the pace. Justis Huni bounced back from a knockout loss last June to edge Frazer Clarke by majority decision (95-95, 96-94, 96-94) in a competitive heavyweight bout, further shaking up the British heavyweight scene.
In a battle of undefeated super middleweights, Polish-born Pawel August scored a career-best win with a unanimous six-round decision over Germany’s Simon Zachenhuber. August, a late substitute for Troy Williamson, out-hustled and outworked Zachenhuber, handing the former WBA and IBF European champion his first professional defeat. The referee scored it 58-56 for August, who moved to 18-0 and expressed openness to a rematch over twelve rounds.
Other highlights included undefeated Texan Breyon Gorham’s fifth-round TKO over Brazilian Eduardo Costa, improving Gorham’s record to 22-0 with 17 KOs. Bantamweight Mikie Tallon silenced critics of his punching power with a first-round knockout of former Olympian Leandro Jose Blanc, landing a left hook to the body at 2:53 of round one. Middleweight Felix Cash, returning to the ring after his first career defeat, stopped Liam O’Hare at 0:22 of round two, dropping O’Hare three times with right hands and surviving a scare at the end of the first round. Undefeated 18-year-old Sultan Almohammad of Saudi Arabia improved to 3-0 with a third-round stoppage of Mexico’s Hector Avila Lozano, while welterweight Elliot Whale dominated Tom Hill en route to a fourth-round TKO.
The atmosphere throughout the evening was electric, with a poignant tribute to Ricky Hatton during Fury’s ring walk—Blue Moon played in honor of the late boxing legend. The crowd, which packed the stadium despite earlier concerns about ticket sales, was treated to a spectacle of British boxing’s past, present, and future. The event’s global broadcast on Netflix only amplified its reach, putting the sport—and its most compelling personalities—on center stage for a worldwide audience.
As the dust settles, the boxing world is left buzzing about what comes next. Will Fury and Joshua finally settle their rivalry in the ring? Can Conor Benn parlay his momentum into a world title shot against Ryan Garcia? One thing’s certain: the drama and excitement from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have set the tone for a thrilling year ahead in boxing.