rewrite this title Fury vs Makhmudov LIVE: Start time, undercard, fight updates and results tonight

The potential absence of Fury’s father adds a layer of personal drama to tonight’s event.

Addressing his father’s stance, Fury explained this week: “He’s not happy. He wanted me to retire in 2020 after I beat Deontay Wilder. He is just not happy and doesn’t want me to box.

“I think when it’s your kids and when it’s your close relatives, you feel very concerned for the individual, and he has got his opinions. He just doesn’t want me to do it, he never wanted me to do it for the past six years.”

Makhmudov appeared disinterested in what Fury had to say on Thursday, as the Russian spent much of their press conference on his phone.

It remains to be seen how many tickets have been and will be sold for tonight’s bout, which streams live on Netflix and is sure to deliver solid viewing figures regardless of the attendance.

Still, it has been hard to judge the hype around the fight, with many fans raising eyebrows at another Fury comeback.

And Thursday’s press conference in Canary Wharf fell flat overall, with Makhmudov spending much of the press conference on his phone, typing.

Makhmudov actually had a poster of Fury on his wall.

The photo? Of the two of them together, “10 years ago, it was in Canada, he came to support [Billy Joe] Saunders against David Lemieux,” Makhmudov recalls.

He admits that, back then, he could not have dreamed of being paired with Fury one day. “Only God knows what’s going to happen tomorrow, in 1,000 years, everything.”

But, he says: “God gave gave me the signal, I imagine it like a signal.”

A few thoughts from our columnist Steve Bunce:

“Tonight under the stars in north London, Fury returns to the ring after a long absence and has to prove he is still the No 1 attraction.

“For his return, Fury has picked Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having only fought in the UK twice in the last eight years (all his major fights during that time have been in Las Vegas, Riyadh and Los Angeles).

“Tonight’s fight is a genuine test of his pulling power and appeal. Even with Netflix’s involvement and the lack of a pay-per-view approach, with 67,000 seats available, it will be hard to disguise a failure.”

Subject to very late changes…

Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis (150lb catchweight)

Jeamie Tshikeva (British heavyweight champion) vs Richard Riakporhe

Frazer Clarke vs Justis Huni (heavyweight)

Troy Williamson vs Simon Zachenhuber (super-middleweight)

Breyon Gorham vs Eduard Georgiev (super-lightweight)

Mikie Tallon vs Cristopher Rios (flyweight)

Felix Cash vs Liam O’Hare (middleweight)

Hector Lozano vs Sultan Almohammed (super-featherweight)

Elliot Whale vs Tom Hill (welterweight)

The odds for this evening’s main event, per William Hill on Friday, stand as such:

Fury – 2/9; Makhmudov – 7/2; draw – 20/1

Meanwhile, the co-main odds from William Hill yesterday looked like this:

Benn – 1/12; Prograis – 13/2; draw – 25/1

The event will stream live exclusively on Netflix worldwide. It will be available to all existing subscribers; in other words, the event will not be a pay-per-view.

Fury vs Makhmudov will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London tonight.

The main card is due to begin at 7pm BST (11am PT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET), with main-event ring walks from 10pm BST (2pm PT / 4pm CT / 5pm ET).

There will be a bit of preliminary action before the main card gets under way.

Follow live updates and results from Fury vs Makhmudov and the undercard, including Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis, right here.