Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard boosted by British heavyweight title fight

The Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard is shaping up nicely.

talkSPORT.com understands that a British heavyweight title fight between Jeamie TKV and Richard Riakporhe will support Fury’s return to the ring on April 11 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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The bout had initially been in the works to headline a BOXXER event on March 7 at the Royal Albert Hall, live on the BBC.

However, it will now be broadcast to millions on Netflix.

TKV (9-2) picked up the vacant Lonsdale belt via a gutsy split decision victory over Frazer Clarke in November.

It was second time lucky for the 32-year-old, who was controversially stopped by David Adeleye when he challenged for the title in April.

Adeleye dropped TKV with a left hook in the sixth round after referee Rob Kearney had called break.

Despite the shot landing well after the referee’s intervention, Kearney administered a count as TKV made his way back to his feet on unsteady legs.

A follow-up flurry sent TKV hurtling back down the canvas as the bout was waved off, to the collective disbelief of everyone in attendance.

TKV’s team subsequently lodged an appeal to the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC).

An immediate rematch was ordered, but Adeleye relinquished the British title and chose to face Filip Hrgovic instead.

Riakporhe (19-1) is looking to become a two-weight British champion, having previously held the cruiserweight version between 2019 and 2020.

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He unsuccessfully challenged for the WBO cruiserweight strap in June 2024 against Chris Billam-Smith, in a rematch of their nip-and-tuck affair six years prior.

The defeat prompted a move up in weight to boxing’s glamour division, where ‘The Midnight Train’ has got off to a flying start.

Riakporhe retired durable Argentine journeyman Kevin Nicolas Espindola on his stool in May, and then blasted away the previously undefeated Tommy Welch inside two rounds on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn II bill in November.

Before Riakporhe’s name had been thrown into the mix, TKV had been in negotiations to defend his belt against Johnny Fisher in March at the Copper Box Arena.

While both parties agreed upon terms, the contest collapsed due to a dispute over the date.

A British and Commonwealth middleweight title clash between George Liddard and Tyler Denny has since filled the vacancy at the 6,000-seater east London venue.