Tyson Fury’s next boxing foe certainly won’t be intimidated.

Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov: Date, Start Time, Fight Card, and How to Watch on Netflix - Netflix Tudum

The former unified heavyweight world champion is making his return to the ring after his latest short-lived retirement from boxing.

Following Fury’s second loss to Oleksandr Usyk in late 2024, the Briton returned to the sidelines after once again calling time on his career.

He announced another comeback at the start of 2026, and that will officially get underway when Fury faces Arslanbek Makhmudov on Netflix this April.

The fight is being seen as a tune-up for ‘The Gypsy King’, but the Russian behemoth is not one to simply roll over — not even to a bear…

Tyson Fury’s boxing comeback opponent wrestled a bear

In Makhmudov, Fury will be returning to the ring against a heavyweight knockout artist who has 19 wins inside the distance out of 21 total pro victories.

‘The Gypsy King’ will also be battling a Russian powerhouse who appears to be fearless, judging by what he was filmed doing prior to his most recent triumph.

Ahead of his WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title win over Dave Allen in Sheffield, England, last October, Makhmudov was filmed wrestling with a bear.

The moment drew out plenty of reactions from boxing fans at the time. Many who commented on the video when it was uploaded to the Fight Hub TV YouTube channel were in shock at what they were seeing.

“Is the standard for winning ‘not dying?’”

“Looking back at all the mistakes I made in my life… watching this video makes me feel wise again.”

“Getting a tech on a bear is nasty work.”

“This is indeed pretty insane. Claws look uncovered…Jeez.”

The man known as ‘Lion’ laughed off the unique training method, showing that Fury is unlikely to intimidate the 36-year-old when they throw down in the United Kingdom on April 11.

Heavyweight boxer Arslanbek Makhmudov wrestles a bear

UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov famously wrestled a bear

In a sentence only possible in the combat sports world, Makhmudov is not the only prominent athlete to have been filmed grappling with a bear.

UFC lightweight GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov had a similar experience years before making his name as one of the most successful fighters in MMA history.

Before going 29-0 inside the cage, ‘The Eagle’ showed off his wrestling strength by battling a bear cub at the age of just nine.

That is said to be a common practice in Dagestan, and Nurmagomedov grappled the animal under his legendary father’s guidance.