Anthony Joshua’s return fight next year could be up against Arslanbek Makhmudov – the towering Russian who trains for his fights by wrestling bears and taking sledgehammer shots to the gut.
Joshua has not fought since his devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September last year, the third and most damaging defeat of his career to date.
In the 12 months away from the ring, the former Olympian has undergone elbow surgery with hopes he and Tyson Fury can still meet in a long overdue Battle of Britain.
But after an extended spell out of the ring, the two-time heavyweight champion is expected to return against a lower-key opponent in early 2026.
Makhmudov is one of the most fearsome-looking fighters operating in the heavyweight division, bludgeoning his way to 18 straight victories, 17 of those by knockout, until he was halted by Agit Kabayel in December 2023.
Makhmudov was stopped himself that night with another knockout defeat to Guido Vianello in August 2024 seeing his stock plummet.
Standing at 6ft 5in with a bulging neck, Makhmudov is a terrifying prospect at a glance with his wild training methods doing little to soften the frightening reputation he has built.
Footage on Makhmudov’s Instagram account shows the giant grappling with a bear, also having members of his team take turns hitting him in the stomach with sledgehammers as part of his conditioning training.
Despite the fear factor, the Russian is in desperate need of a statement victory and takes on Dave Allen in Sheffield this weekend. Allen is himself enjoying a wonderful return to form with back-to-back wins over Jonny Fisher catapulting him back into contention.
Speaking ahead of fight night on Saturday, Allen told Seconds Out he believes Makhmudov has been identified as Joshua’s next opponent if he beats him.
‘The White Rhino’ meanwhile could set up his own blockbuster showdown with Deontay Wilder if he is victorious, not convinced the Joshua fight comes his way.
Dave Allen remembers ‘his mate’ Ricky Hatton
The boxing world is still in mourning following the tragic death of Ricky Hatton in September.
The former world champion impacted the lives of so many he met inside and outside the sport with Allen among them.
Metro was lucky enough to have Ricky as our guest boxing columnist for a year between 2021 and 2022, weighing in on the sport’s endless stream of drama and previewing the biggest fights with us.
Speaking to IFL TV ahead of his fight this weekend, Allen recalled picking up a copy of the newspaper on the bus to find ‘The Hitman’talking about his own career.
I’m on the bus reading Metro, Ricky Hatton used to write a column in the Metro, and it said “my mate Dave Allen is fighting…”
‘And I was so f*****g proud. I couldn’t believe it. Ricky Hatton said I was his mate in the paper. F*****g buzzing I was, on the bus! Because he was a genuine legend of British boxing.
‘He were bigger than boxing as well. We got on pretty well over the years, I used to spar Nathan Gorman down the gym in Hyde a few times a week. He used to grab hold of me and hug me.
‘At the last Johnny Fisher fight I see him in the hotel lobby and he kissed me on the head! So I always got on really well with him. He was my mate and he put it in the paper and I’ve never been so f*****g happy in my life when I saw that.’
‘He’ll [Joshua] box Makhmudov if Makhmudov beats me,’ Allen said. ‘If I win I don’t think I will box Joshua but I think that is what will happen. That’s what I hear.’
Asked why the opportunity to fight Joshua might not come his way even in the event of putting away the big Russian, Allen added: ‘Because Makhmudov is a much scarier looking guy than me. He might look more of a threat. That’s what I think happens if the result goes that way.’
Makhmudov has also been in contact with Joshua, claiming the two have agreed a fight if he leaves Sheffield with a win this weekend.
‘I hope I will get a good opportunity with the next win,’ he told talkSPORT.com.
‘By the way, Joshua told me on Instagram that if I win this fight, then I will fight with him. He said next year we can do it, Inshallah.’