Tyson Fury’s next opponent is no stranger to a challenge – and certainly will not be intimidated by the occasion.

The former unified heavyweight world champion is coming out of retirement once again, ready to step back into the ring after his latest spell away from boxing.

After suffering his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk at the end of 2024, Fury had announced yet another retirement. But true to form, he could not stay away for long.

He confirmed his return at the start of 2026, with his comeback set to begin against Arslanbek Makhmudov this April in a bout being shown on Netflix.

This fight is being viewed as a warm-up for Fury, but Makhmudov is far from an easy opponent. The Russian is not one to back down easily – not even against a bear…

Arslanbek Makhmudov once wrestled a bear before a fight

Fury’s comeback fight will not be an easy one, with Makhmudov’s reputation for knockouts adding another layer of intrigue. He has picked up 19 stoppages in 21 pro wins, building a reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous punchers.

And it is not just his power that stands out. Ahead of his win over Dave Allen in Sheffield last October, Makhmudov was caught on camera wrestling a bear – something that certainly got people talking.

The clip, shared by Fight Hub TV on their YouTube channel, did the rounds online. Fans were quick to jump into the comments, shocked by what they had seen.

“Is the standard for winning ‘not dying?’”

“Looking back at all the mistakes I made in my life… watching this video makes me feel wise again.”

“Getting a tech on a bear is nasty work.”

“This is indeed pretty insane. Claws look uncovered…Jeez.”

The 36-year-old fighter, nicknamed ‘Lion’, simply laughed at the unusual training display, signaling that he will likely be unfazed by Fury when they clash in the United Kingdom on 11 April.

UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov also wrestled a bear

Only in combat sports can you say something like this: Makhmudov is not the only athlete with footage of him wrestling a bear.

Khabib Nurmagomedov, considered by many to be the greatest lightweight in UFC history, had a similar moment long before he became an MMA superstar.

Long before his 29-0 career inside the cage, ‘The Eagle’ was filmed at just nine years old wrestling a bear cub, giving an early look at his raw grappling ability.

This type of training is said to be common in Dagestan, and Nurmagomedov took part under the supervision of his legendary father.