Former heavyweight champion David Haye praised Tyson Fury's return to the ring as an "optimal performance" following his unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Fury ended a 15-month absence with a tactical display that impressed boxing analysts, despite not being his most explosive showing. Haye emphasized the strategic nature of the win during his Netflix commentary.
"Fury did exactly what he needed to do," Haye observed. "That was the optimal performance for him. If he could pick the type of performance to put forward, it would be exactly that. He took all his tools out of the box and polished them up."
Retired champion Andre Ward echoed this sentiment, defending the quality of Fury's opponent. "Some will say Makhmudov is limited, but he's good enough," Ward noted. "You can't take away from what you've seen from Tyson Fury offensively and defensively tonight."
Four-time world champion Carl Froch highlighted the physical benefits of Fury's controlled approach. "He's been out the ring for nearly 16 months and he put in a 12-round performance at a good pace," Froch said. "The first couple of rounds were close, but then he took over against a dangerous puncher. He got hit with a couple of little shots, but you can see by his face he's not marked up."
Anthony Joshua's Ringside Assessment
Fury's British rival Anthony Joshua watched from ringside and offered a confident assessment of how a potential matchup might unfold.
"I like his fighting style, I think he is good, but I don't think he will be able to cope with me," Joshua stated after the fight. "Based off tonight, it would be hard work for him."
Fury immediately called for a bout against Joshua following his victory, pressing his rival for a definitive answer at ringside. Joshua, however, declined to commit to the matchup.
Lewis Urges Caution on Joshua Decision
Former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis expressed concern about the timing of such negotiations, citing Joshua's recent personal tragedy.
"I think it's too soon for Anthony Joshua right now," Lewis cautioned. "He just went through a traumatic thing, that's why he doesn't want to make any decisions. I think they're forcing him to make a decision when he's not ready to make that decision."
Lewis referenced the December car crash that claimed the lives of two of Joshua's close friends as a factor that should give the boxing community pause before pushing for immediate commitments from the former champion.