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Heavyweight boxing makes headline news again this week with the return of former world champion Tyson Fury. The Gypsy King famously won the WBC belt by knocking out former champion Deontay Wilder in 2020.
He defended three times before suffering back-to-back defeats against current champion Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia. The Englishman now targets a home win.
Fury takes part in his first professional contest in the United Kingdom since stopping Derek Chisora in December 2022.
That bout lasted just ten rounds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Will it prove a happy homecoming?
Arslanbek Makhmudov stands in his way, with the hard-hitting Russian bringing a 90% knockout average from 23 bouts. He plots to add Tyson to his hit list.
Major online bookmakers celebrate Fury's return to action by offering a long list of pre-fight and live betting markets.
Boxing fans can keep it simple and predict the winner or play one of the specials, including total rounds and the method of victory.
Need help finding the value? Frank Monkhouse guides Flashscore readers through his Fury vs Makhmudov predictions.
Fury v Makhmudov tips
Fight not to go the distance @ 3/10 (bet365)
Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Fight to go the distance - No
My first suggested bet is for Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov not to go the distance. You'll find this one on the Bet365 app in, unsurprisingly, the fight to go the distance market.
Tap the odds attached to 'No' to add it to your bet slip, input a stake, check, and confirm. Your wager is live, and you'll land a profit if Saturday's bout doesn't make it to the final bell.
It's worth noting that Fury vs Makhmudov is scheduled for 12 rounds, despite the absence of a world title.
Arslanbek Makhmudov's record shows he has 21 wins against two defeats on his record, with two bouts decided by the scoring judges.
The 6'5" orthodox boxer now based in Canada has KO'd 19 of the men he's faced, but each of his two losses came early.
Switching to the crowd and the bookmakers' favourite, we see Fury has already knocked out 24 opponents. The 6'9" Englishman's record reads 34 wins against two defeats and a draw.
Both losses came on points against Usyk, with the draw in America versus Deontay Wilder. Tyson famously scored four stoppages in a row against Wilder, Dillian Whyte, and Chisora.
Tip: Fight not to go the distance @ 3/10 (bet365)
Bet explanation: The winning fighter isn't important here. You need Fury vs Makhmudov to end inside the distance.
Fight winner - Fury
When following my first prediction, the winning fighter isn't important. A KO victory for Fury pays the same as a draw or early win for Makhmudov.
Here I am picking sides. Bet on Tyson Fury to defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and you'll secure a profit regardless of whether he wins on points or by stoppage.
As you may have guessed, Fury is a hot favourite in the fight winner market with all major bookies. The odds suggest the result is a foregone conclusion.
Experienced boxing bettors know that's a dangerous strategy. Heavyweight boxing is fast-paced, unpredictable, and fun to follow. However, Fury is the better boxer and will live up to those high expectations.
Tyson has lost only twice in a 37-bout career that stretches back to 2008. The only man to beat him to date is Usyk, who unified the cruiserweight division before doing the same at heavyweight.
There's certainly no shame in that. We take heart from Tyson's wins over Chisora, Whyte, Wilder, and Klitschko, all of whom are better than Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Bet explanation: The odds may be short, but a win of any description for Tyson Fury over Arslanbek Makhmudov will boost your betting balance.
Method of victory - Fury by KO/TKO
My third and final Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov prediction boasts the best odds of the three.
Having picked Saturday's blockbuster in London not to go the distance, and Fury to defeat Makhmudov, I'm happy to combine the two.
You can back Fury to win by KO/TKO in the method of victory market at bet365. A first-round TKO is as good as a 12th-round KO.
Looking at the Brit's recent wins, he scored four of his last five inside the distance. Wilder fell in rounds seven and then in round 11 in the third fight.
The Bodysnatcher Whyte tumbled in round six, before War Chisora lasted until the tenth. Fury has beaten just one man on points since the summer of 2019, and that was former UFC star Francis Ngannou in Riyadh.
Tyson's impressive stats and punch power are encouraging. I respect the fact that Arslanbek Makhmudov is also a big-hitter, with 19 KO wins.
That will ensure the 36-year-old known as Lion will come to fight, aiming to be aggressive and pushing Fury back.
Tyson will control the pace in the early rounds, before piling on the pressure and getting rid of his opponent late.
Tip: Fury by KO/TKO @ 1/2 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Tyson Fury must defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov inside the distance. The timing of the knockout isn't as important as the result.
Fury v Makhmudov odds
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The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.