Tyson Fury beats Makhmudov in heavyweight boxing comeback – as it happened

Our coverage is ending now. Thanks so much for joining us for an intriguing evening of boxing.

After Fury outclassed Makhmudov, the negotiations can now begin for Fury vs Joshua, and hopefully, they can deliver.

Al Jazeera will be back on Sunday with more live sporting action, including Chelsea vs Man City in a pivotal Premier League clash. But for now, it’s goodbye from Patrick Keddie and Kevin Hand.

Click here to read our full report following Fury’s win.

• Tyson Fury beat Arslanbek Makhmudov via unanimous decision (120-108, 120-108, 119-109)
• Conor Benn beat Regis Prograis via unanimous decision (98-92, 98-92, 98-92)
• Richard Riakporhe beat Jeamie Tshikeva via TKO, fifth round
• Justis Huni beat Frazer Clarke via majority decision (95-95, 96-94, 96-94)

Anthony Joshua has spoken more to Netflix.

“I’ll be completely honest. There’s a negotiation you go through. I’ve sat at this table with him many times. In my heart, I would fight Tyson Fury tomorrow, especially after watching that.

“It’s not a problem with me fighting. I’m not here to get clout, I’m here to fight. Contracts will be sent over, and you’ll probably see us in the ring more likely.

“I’m not here to get in the ring and shout in somebody’s face, I’m not about that. I saw what I saw and know what I’ve got to do when I get in the ring…

“Once I’m 100 percent, I’ll be ready. I run the game. Everyone knows I run the game. It’s what I do; I’m very strong.

“When I hit Fury, I’ll hurt him bad.”

Fury says that 16 months out was a long time, but he’s happy to get a “good, sharp” 12 rounds in against a tough opponent.

“I just took out the number five-ranked contender in the world with ease,” he says.

Fury says he dedicates the fight to his friend, Ricky Hatton, the great British boxer who recently passed away.

“May he rest in peace forever,” Fury shouts, before leading a chant of “There’s only one Ricky Hatton”.

Fury gets frustrated as Joshua refuses to come into the ring.

“Come on, you big s***house, are you going to fight or not?” he shouts.

Someone has handed Joshua a microphone, and he accuses Fury of being a “clout chaser”.

“I’ve never had a problem getting in the ring with you. I punched you out when we were kids, and I’ll punch you out again,” Joshua says as Fury shouts at him from the ring.

Joshua adds: “With all due respect, tonight is your night, and you know I’ll [be] in that ring across from you in due time. You aren’t going to tell me what to do. I’ve been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you’re ready, you come and see me… I’m the boss. You work for me.”

It would definitely have been more fun if Joshua had just gotten in the ring.

Fury tells Joshua to stop running from him.

Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh speaks before Fury and confirms that the Gypsy King will fight Antony Joshua next. Then he hands the microphone over to Fury.

“Next, I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for – I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua,” he says, addressing Joshua in the crowd. “Let’s give the fight fans what they want – the Battle of Britain!… Do you accept my challenge?”

Joshua responds by tapping his chest, but doesn’t say anything.

The judges score it 120-108, 120-108, 119-109 to Fury.

Fury endured a couple of hair-raising rounds at the start of the fight as Makhmudov mounted a crude assault, but the Russian soon faded as Fury took charge with his sublime boxing skills.

Before the judges had even given their scores, Fury was trying to convince Joshua to get into the ring, but he defers, saying, “It’s your night”.

Fury is utterly in charge as the last round begins.

Makhmudov does land a rather tired right overhand, but Fury is stepping back, and it only grazes him.

Fury lands some more uppercuts with ease, left and right, while Makhmudov generally looks happy to clinch and survive.

Makhmudov has taken a huge accumulation of punches now, and he is drained.

Into the final minute, Fury whips a left into Makhmudov’s gut, as the crowd roars on Fury as he looks for the finish.

He can’t find it before the bell goes, but he’s surely won handily on points and has set up a super fight with Anthony Joshua.

Trainer SugarHill Steward in Fury’s corner tells him he wants him to finish the fight now.

Fury puts a nice one-two through Makhmudov’s guard, but he’s not rushing a knockout attempt.

Fury sticks a right uppercut into Makhmudov’s midriff, then, shortly after, lands one to the head.

Makhmudov takes a look at the clock. He is just trying to stay upright now.

Fury unloads on Makhmudov in the corner just before the bell goes.

Makhmudov doesn’t seem to have an answer to Fury’s boxing, as the “Gypsy King” batters his torso mercilessly on the inside.

The Russian’s mouthpiece comes out for the second time in a couple of rounds as he gasps for air.

Fury lands a vicious right hand, and Makhmudov’s knees buckle.

Makhmudov’s punches are so looping and slow that Fury can evade them easily.

The Russian is not moving his head, and Fury is getting closer with his right uppercuts.

Fury unloads on Makhmudov on the ropes in the final minute, but the Russian manages to escape. But he’s soon caught with a big left hook just before the bell. Makhmudov can certainly take a punch.

Fury has landed 106 punches to Makhmudov’s 44 as the round begins.

Makhmudov tries to tie Fury in a clinch, but it’s just an invitation for the British fighter to batter his body before moving to the head. Makhmudov takes a big right to the chin but seems untroubled.

Fury is dictating the pace of the fight; he forces Makhmudov back, giving him a taste of his own medicine.

Makhmudov’s knees buckle as Fury grabs his neck in the clinch.

Fury looks much the fresher man. He’s taken some decent shots and out-boxed and out-paced the big Russian, so he will be considering it as a useful comeback fight so far. Will he search more decisively for a knockout now?

Fury seems to be taking his time in there, perhaps eager to get the minutes under his belt after a long layoff.

The ferocity of Makhmudov’s attacks has faded. Fury lands another uppercut as Makhmudov comes forward.

Fury times a beautiful, long left hook to the Russian’s face, and Makhmudov looks a little hurt. Fury senses blood but almost gets caught with a big shot as he moves in.

The British fighter resets and again pours on the pressure, but Makhmudov manages to fend him off to survive the round.

Fury maintains his flicking jabs, while Makhmudov is barely throwing any jabs.

As Fury looks for an uppercut, Makhmudov lands a decent counter overhand right. Shortly after, he lands another overhand right. He’s having a better round so far, but he can’t build on the shots that land.

Fury lands a beautiful, right uppercut through the guard and then keeps poking away with his quick, powerful jab, while Makhmudov misses with a sweeping right hand as the round ends.

The British fighter is very much in charge now.

Fury is getting more time to put his shots together now and is looking for a right uppercut.

Makhmudov is still mounting his charging attacks, but Fury eases him aside like they’re on the dance floor and peppers the Russian’s body with shots as he takes an age to turn around.

The Russian is still able to make it ugly and awkward for Fury at times, but it’s all pretty clumsy.

Fury switches stances, flicking jabs into Makhmudov’s face at will, until the Russian decides to launch a charge. He even lands a backhand, an illegal shot, but the referee doesn’t acknowledge it.

The bell goes with Fury looking comfortable.

Makhmudov might be looking ragged, but Fury also looks a little rusty at times. He’s still trying to establish his long jab.

Fury uses his forearm to keep Makhmudov at bay. The British fighter is looking fairly relaxed and untroubled in there now.

Makhmudov swings and misses with two chopping lefts as he mounts increasingly lumbering attacks.

Fury keeps getting tied up after landing his lightning-fast jab, but then reverts to digging shots to the Russian’s body in the clinch.

Fury turns Makhmudov onto the ropes and lands a left hook to the head just before the bell goes.

Fury looks for a big right, but Makhmudov clips him, and the British fighter takes it.

Makhmudov looks to unload on Fury as he gets an opening, and he lands a looping left, but he’s ever more ragged and is also quite eager to wrestle when he can.

Fury lands an overhand right, and then the referee has to step in after he grabs Makhmudov’s neck in a guillotine-type hold.

Fury attacks the body in the clinch, while Makhmudov again attempts to barrel forward in his attacks.

“I’ve got my eyes on the prize; you know what I am here for. I’ll be in the deep end again soon,” Joshua told Netflix in between rounds.

Fury’s corner notes that Makhmudov appears to be tiring already.

Accordingly, the third round starts at a more sedate pace.

Fury switches stances and begins using his superior speed to flick some shots into Makhmudov’s face.

Makhmudov pours forward with some chopping shots, but it’s not looking as dangerous now.

Fury digs some hooks to the body as the fighters clinch, then goes upstairs with a hook.

Fury unloads a big assault to the body, slowing the Russian even more, and the British fighter looks like he’s starting to enjoy himself now.

Makhmudov is starting to look a little lost as Fury finds his rhythm.