Tyson Fury, Conor Benn and a high-stakes boxing weekend: 5 things to watch

Boxing’s spring calendar is beginning to gather pace, and this weekend delivers another slate of fights with plenty of narratives bubbling beneath the surface.

Front and center is the return of Tyson Fury.

After announcing retirement for the fifth time, the self-styled “Gypsy King” climbs back through the ropes on Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — perhaps hoping to provide north London with a rare moment of celebration after what has been a miserable campaign for the club on the pitch.

If the 37-year-old can’t navigate his way past Canadian-based Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov, then the most likely outcome isn’t a long-awaited blockbuster with Anthony Joshua — it’s Fury relegating himself quietly into a sixth retirement.

Let’s take a look at the best of the boxing action over this high-stakes weekend.

1. Fury returns from boxing retirement for a fifth time

Tyson Fury insists he has returned to the sport refreshed and operating at the peak of his powers after a 16-month spell away from the ring — a claim that will either be validated or exposed when the bell rings Saturday night on Netflix.

The former heavyweight champion faces the imposing Arslanbek Makhmudov inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a man who looks like he’s wandered straight out of a Rocky film — all beard, bulk and bravado, accompanied by video clips of him wrestling a bear. But in reality, I promise he’s a really nice bloke!

Fury’s task is simple on paper. If he is to get past Makhmudov, then he will place himself back into the heavyweight title conversation. But if this really is Tyson Fury 5.0, don’t expect a dramatic reinvention.

The 37-year-old says he’s enjoyed a “revolutionary” training camp in the Thai heat since the start of the year, but Fury has long had a habit of letting his mouth sprint several yards ahead of his brain when selling a fight.

Makhmudov is a very beatable heavyweight, but might just prove the perfect yardstick for assessing where Tyson Fury’s at in 2026.

2. Does Benn really have a fan base in the UK?

Now, I’m not saying that I wouldn’t necessarily accept $15 million to get into the ring with Regis Prograis, but — spoiler alert — I am not a professional boxer.

For Conor Benn, his spot on Saturday night’s undercard in north London signals the best bit of business a fighter has ever conducted.

Conor Benn (L) faces off with Regis Prograis during a ceremonial weigh-in in central London.

(HENRY NICHOLLS via Getty Images)

The 29-year-old is making his way back down to welterweight under the Zuffa banner, but has decided to stop at 150 pounds to take on the former 140-pound champion, Prograis, who has won just one fight since the summer of 2023.

Oh, and it’s not part of a Zuffa show. The Netflix-streamed show is being promoted by Spencer Brown and marketed as a Ring Magazine show.

Still confused? Us too. But what is clear is that Benn will struggle to win over the London crown on Saturday night. “The Destroyer” has suffered a huge crash in popularity since leaving Matchroom Boxing earlier this year and the Tottenham crowd — well versed at booing — are expected to treat Benn as a pantomime villain.

Who am I kidding? I’ll take that check and some hefty health insurance on the side.

3. Superstar Nasukawa returns against a Mexican legend

I’ll never tire of recalling my trip to Japan in 2023, where I was able to visit Tokyo’s Ariake Arena for a show headlined by Kenshiro Teraji vs. Hekkie Budler.

What was most memorable that evening was not the winning performances of Teraji or even Junto Nakatani, but the reception Tenshin Nasukawa received in his second pro boxing outing.

Japan is typically a very reserved country, but the kickboxing legend got the whole arena up on their feet, losing their minds during the entirety of an eight-round decision win over Luis Enrique Guzman Torres.

Seven fights later and the 27-year-old southpaw is 7-1 in the boxing game, attempting to bounce back from his solitary career defeat at the hands of Takuma Inoue last November. If he is to do so, he’s going to have to do it against a Mexican legend.

Juan Francisco Estrada meets Nasukawa in a WBC title eliminator at bantamweight this weekend in what is your classic crossroads fight in Tokyo.

Estrada, 35, has fought twice since 2022, but is as crafty, gutsy and experienced as they come, and will be a big test for a man in Nasukawa with plenty of question marks still surrounding his level.

4. The British heavyweight title is on the line

If Fury and Benn don’t do it for you, then the British heavyweight title fight between Jeamie TKV and Richard Riakporhe is well worth tuning into Netflix for on its own merit.

TKV is coming off of a career-best win over Frazer Clarke where he won the belt last November, and is being thrown into a tough opening defense of the Lonsdale strap against a former cruiserweight world title challenger, Riakporhe.

It’ll be Riakporhe’s third fight in the heavyweight division, but the 36-year-old is convinced he has the power and style to trouble anyone in the most lucrative of divisions.

TKV is renowned for his spirited, energy-sapping inside fighting, but Riakporhe has already proven his ability to bang hard as a heavyweight, having stopped both Tommy Welch and Kevin Espindola.

5. It’s a BIG Monday for the little guys …

If you want to squeeze a little more juice out of your weekend, we won’t tell anyone.

But you’ll have to switch your attention back to Tokyo for an IBF world light flyweight title fight.

The defending champion is Thanongsak Simsri, who at 25 years old has accumulated an astonishing 39-1 record as an 108-pound fighter, taking his only loss back in 2022 to Masamichi Yabuki.

Mexican southpaw Sergio Alfonso Mendoza Cordova, 26, is the man attempting to add another loss to Simsri’s impressive record, bringing his similarly active unbeaten 27-0 slate to the table.

It’s a big test for the traveling Mexican, who fights out of his native homeland for the first time in his career, but one that he is expected to excel in after an impressive rise in the light flyweight ranks.

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