The 36-year-old heavyweight points to his 12-round fight against Dave Allen as a turning point in his approach to his toughness and composure deep into fights. Prior to that fight, Makhmudov built his record mainly on early strikes and had never been tested at full range.
“It gives me a lot of confidence, because I've never fought like this. Hard rounds, I've never fought 12 rounds,” Makhmudov told Boxingscene. “But because I have it now, it's good to have experience. Knowledge is always good. It always helps, and it's everything to me.”
That picture on the ceiling really tells the story of yesterday's picture. Seeing them together really highlights the visual difference between the two. If Fury comes in light and small, it can be a double-edged sword. He can be fast, or he can depend on a powerhouse like Makhmudov.
The idea of Makhmudov carrying his power in the late rounds is a legitimate nightmare for any heavyweight, but especially one facing a long layoff. Heavyweight strength is often the last thing, but boxing stamina and endurance often declines with age and inactivity.
Historically, Fury's best defenses have been his mobility and his ability to bind fighters to wear them down. However, if Fury doesn't really get the gas tank he showed in the Usyk rematch, he won't be able to dance 12 rounds.
Makhmudov hits hard. Taking those shots on the arms and shoulders for 30 minutes wears out a fighter's legs. Now that Makhmudov knows he won't be gassed in the sixth round, he can pace himself to explode in the championship round.
The 37-year-old Fury is in a different phase of his career. Being painfully thin after his training camp may suggest he works on his cardio, but against the powerful Russian, he usually needs meat on the bones to absorb the impact of those right hands.
The Russian fighter added that fighting in the UK during that fight also helped prepare him for what he expected to be this weekend, where the crowd will be in Fury's favor.
“It was amazing. Everyone was against me,” Makhmudov said of his last fight in Sheffield, England, against Dave Allen. “I said, 'after the fight you will love me.' And this happened. “
Some fighters need the love of the crowd to perform, but others turn into absolute monsters when they feel like a villain. Makhmudov clearly falls into the second category.
If Makhmudov can successfully release that energy by staying calm and landing heavy shots early, he could turn the O2 Arena into a very quiet place.
Fury's career of late has been defined by that tough, gritty style, but Makhmudov is probably the worst guy in this division to try to lean on. While most heavyweights are put off by Fury's size, Makhmudov thrives on the fence.
His clubbing shots are so powerful, that even a short, six-inch hook can do damage. If Fury tries to initiate a clinch to relax or wear down Makhmudov's power, he may find himself in a world of trouble for several reasons:
Makhmudov is a virtual tank. Unlike some of Fury's previous competitors, who have been pushed, the Russian has the ability to hold his own and keep his arms free.
Arslanbek is very comfortable with ground hammer punches, short uppercuts, and body strikes while tied up. When Fury tries to lean over, he leaves his ribs and the side of his head open.
The painfully thin Fury is light enough to be used as a weighted garment. If he doesn't have a lot of physical abuse against Makhmudov, the clinch becomes a neutral ground where the stronger puncher usually wins.
Fury's grappling has helped him continue to win as his moveset declines. But if he can't use his weight to tire Makhmudov, he is forced to return to long distance boxing. With his legs looking questionable and his high level of inactivity, sitting out 12 rounds against a guy who is now confident in his fitness is a big question.
It's the story of a veteran's favorite trick that may be his biggest liability. If Fury gets a hold of himself and realizes he can't move the man in front of him, the way he looks in the third or fourth round will tell us all we need to know.
