After initially retiring following his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, 39, in December 2024, The Gypsy King, 37, is due to return to the ring later this year, and Fury’s manager Spencer Brown has now revealed The Lion, 36, is a top-three contender being considered for the former heavyweight champion to face.
During an interview with Sky Sports, Brown said of Makhmudov: “I’d say he’s on the top three or four most definitely.
“We’re looking at five or six opponents. Yeah, he would be in the top.”
Brown added “an announcement is imminent” regarding Fury’s next fight.
The Gypsy King had initially thrown in the towel following his second points defeat to The Cat, though announced his return 12 months later.
Fury has been linked to Brandon Moore, 31, Fabio Wardley, also 31, a potential trilogy fight with Usyk, Anthony Joshua, 37, and Daniel Dubois, 28.
Dynamite recently said he would “definitely” want to fight The Gypsy King, who has also not been in the ring since his own defeat to Usyk in July 2025.
He told IFL TV: “Yeah, definitely [I want to face him]. All the big names. I’ve fought them all. I just want to fight whoever in 2026. Tyson Fury, whoever.”
Meanwhile, a clash between Fury and Joshua has been rumoured for months, but AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn has recently admitted the potential fight is “irrelevant” following Joshua’s fatal car crash last month - which resulted in the deaths of his friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latifa ‘Natz’ Ayodele.
The Matchroom Boxing promoter said of a potential Joshua-Fury bout: “At this point, who knows?
“I think it’s not even something to discuss publicly, and even with AJ. So really, what was discussed in the past [about fighting Fury] is kind of irrelevant.
“The key will be, if and when, Anthony chooses to return to boxing. When he does that, or if he does that, we will then start to see what a roadmap looks like. But at the moment, those conversations are a long way away.”
As for Usyk, the reigning heavyweight champion revealed he would be open to a third fight with Fury, but only if it meant another shot at undisputed heavyweight glory.
He told Ready to Fight: “Why not, but only if it’s a fight for the undisputed status again.”
