Tyson Fury returns with unanimous points win over Makhmudov and wants Joshua next

• Fury easily defeats Russian on unanimous points decision

• Joshua was ringside but declined to accept Fury’s challenge

Tyson Fury completed the first stage of his latest comeback when he outclassed Arslanbek Makhmudov in an uninspiring near shutout over 12 rounds late on Saturday night.

The former world heavyweight champion has retired on five previous occasions and, each time, he has been unable to resist the lure of a return to the ring.

Now, even at the age of 37, he was still too fast, fluid and accurate for the lumbering Makhmudov.

The Russian from Dagestan hits hard and 17 of his previous 21 victories had featured successful stoppages within the first three rounds.

But Makhmudov has never faced a heavyweight of Fury’s pedigree.

The chasm between them was obvious from the second round and reflected in the scorecards as two judges had Fury winning each round, in a 120-108 victory, while the third scorecard recorded a 119-109 margin.