Spencer Brown, the founder of Gold Star Promotions and Tyson Fury’s current manager, is set to serve as the lead promoter for Fury’s heavyweight clash with Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, according to BoxingScene. The British Boxing Board of Control was expected to officially approve Brown for a British promoter’s license on March 11.
While Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank remain Fury’s official promoters, Queensberry will not participate in the on-ground operation of this specific event. Brown’s Gold Star will instead handle the day-to-day promotional duties, with the bout broadcast live on Netflix.
Gold Star’s Rise Through Riyadh Season
Gold Star Promotions originally specialized in celebrity dinner events before pivoting into boxing as a close ally of Ring Magazine owner and Saudi boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh. Brown’s promotional credits include major “Riyadh Season” cards dating back to December 2023, giving his operation a foothold in the sport’s highest-profile events before stepping into a lead role on British soil.
Brown’s expanded remit means he will coordinate a card that is likely to mark Zuffa Boxing’s first involvement in a British show. Dana White, who has promoted four cards in Las Vegas this year, can work alongside Brown as an established overseas promoter without a dedicated British licence, provided the BBBoC grants approval.
Zuffa Boxing’s UK Entry and the Undercard
Conor Benn, a recent Zuffa Boxing signing, will face Regis Prograis in a 10-round catchweight bout on the undercard.
Ben Shalom’s Boxxer is supplying several fighters for the undercard as well, with Jeamie Tshikeva, Richard Riakporhe, and Frazer Clarke among the names on the card.
Makhmudov Brings Power and Ambition
Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs) stands 6ft 6in and enters the bout off the back of a unanimous decision victory over David Allen in Sheffield last October, winning by scores of 115-111, 116-110, and 117-109.
Allen said after the fight: “I’ve never been hit like that in my life. He hurt me five or six times,” Allen told Sky Sports after the fight.
Makhmudov used the same post-fight platform to call out Anthony Joshua, saying he had already spoken with Joshua and received a commitment to fight in 2026.
Legal Tensions Linger in the Background
The promotional reshuffle takes place against a backdrop of legal friction. According to The Telegraph, Warren’s Queensberry Promotions is reportedly considering a $1 billion lawsuit alleging that Alalshikh, Sela, and TKO (Zuffa’s parent company) breached existing contracts by forming the new promotional arm “behind his back.”
However, the personal and professional relationship between Queensberry and Gold Star is described as “healthy.” Warren was personally invited by Fury to attend the press conference announcing the Makhmudov fight, a detail that suggests the operational distance on this card has not yet hardened into a full rupture.
A Packed Heavyweight Spring
Fury-Makhmudov lands in the middle of a crowded run of heavyweight action. Moses Itauma faces Jermaine Franklin on DAZN on March 28, followed by Deontay Wilder vs. Derek Chisora on DAZN pay-per-view on April 4. Furthermore, Fabio Wardley meets Daniel Dubois on May 9, and Oleksandr Usyk faces Rico Verhoeven on May 23, both on DAZN.
Brown’s approval as a British promoter and the finalization of the April 11 card will determine whether Gold Star Promotions can deliver on a stage this large, with Netflix, Zuffa Boxing, and the sport’s lingering promotional fault lines all converging on north London.
