Russian heavyweight contender Arslanbek Makhmudov has offered himself for a showdown with American knockout artist Deontay Wilder. That’s if Anthony Joshua continues to break the promise of the pair having a fight since last October.
“I would like to fight Wilder,” Makhmudov stated exclusively in a video-call with Boxing Social.
Makhmudov (21-3, 19 KOs) took on Tyson Fury in his second straight fight on British soil, following a successful campaign outpointing David Allen in Sheffield last October. The Russian would lose a comfortable unanimous-decision to Fury earlier this month, but has his eyes set on two particular names in the heavyweight division.
“If I can’t fight Joshua then I want to fight Wilder,” Makhmudov explained. “I only have two goals. Wilder or Joshua. I don’t want any other fight, It’s Joshua or Wilder.”
Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs) put some much needed impetus into his career with a split-decision victory over multiple world title challenger Derek Chisora at the O2 Arena in London on April 4.
“Maybe Chisora would be a good option if they gave me a good offer,” Makhmudov said in response to a backup plan, knowing full well he could be avoided with a slew of heavyweight fights being discussed. “I thought it was a good fight against Chisora. It was a bit of war with some exciting moments, but Wilder was much better for me.”
Makhmudov’s ambitions could be interrupted if Joshua, who is being aggressively chased by Fury, decides to divert his attention to another much discussed and highly lucrative matchup with the American former WBC champion.
“If Joshua takes the Wilder fight, it is a mistake because Fury has already knocked him out two times,” Makhmudov expressed with a slightly sinister laugh. “But Fury could not knock me out in 12 rounds, he wasn’t even close to knocking me out. So, if Joshua goes to Wilder instead of me, he is trying to take the easy way out. You understand? It’s logical.”
The 36-year-old Russian was drafted in to take on Fury following a 16 month hiatus from action. The former two-time world champion, who was reeling off back-to-back defeats to Usyk, chose Makhmuodv as his comeback opponent following a successful trip to England where he showed his pedigree in comfortably defeating Allen on away soil.
“When I was in the ring [with Fury] I always thought I could win,” Makhmudov explained. “I had a couple of successful rounds and did not that bad in some of the other rounds. But Fury is a very smart guy, his boxing IQ is very high. I didn’t really want to say this, but one month before the fight I got covid, and I had the covid for one week. The whole week I was in bed and not training or nothing. To be honest, I remember saying to my coach that I was tired after the first six rounds. I don’t want to make excuses, but my energy was very low.
“Obviously I understand this guy, that he is very good on his feet and very smart. So, my goal was to improve towards the end of the fight in the later rounds, but I did the opposite. Maybe because my energy wasn’t so good, I don’t know.”
Makhmudov has made it clear in a recent video posted on social media that his first option is to get his night with Joshua in November after “three fights in ten months.” However, with the heavyweight division more active and more lucrative than ever before, Wilder has become a fixture in his mind. His lopsided decision loss to Fury did little to launch him into title contention, but he will likely get another shot at one of the big names in the money-drenched weight-class.
“Nothing surprised me about Fury because I know he is very good,” Makhmuodv added. “But this guy said he would knock me out in the sixth or seventh round. Everyone expected him to knock me out in the early rounds, but it didn’t happen. To be honest I didn’t find him too powerful and he didn’t dominate me the way he wanted to, although he dominated by winning most of the rounds.
“I’ve never faced a guy as experienced as him before. He’s a real professional. When you are in the ring with him, he’s very smart. I know boxing, I have Russian boxing schooling, that’s why I know a few things what he’s doing, but he’s very, very good.”
