Arslanbek Ruslanovich Makhmudov

Arslanbek Ruslanovich Makhmudov is a Russian heavyweight known for his power and heavy stoppage rate. Nicknamed “Lion,” the orthodox 197 cm fighter fights out of Montreal and has built a professional record of 21–3 with 19 stoppage wins. Though not a current world or regional titleholder, Makhmudov has been a regular presence in the regional heavyweight scene and has twice carried multiple secondary belts through his rise. Makhmudov turned pro in late 2017 and made an immediate impact with a string of early knockouts. He opened his career with successive first-round stoppages and established a pattern of fast finishes that carried him into longer, higher-profile assignments. By 2019 he was fighting for regional honours: a TKO seventh-round win over Jonathan Rice delivered the vacant WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title, and a stoppage of Julian Fernandez later that year secured the vacant WBC–NABF heavyweight crown. Following those breakthrough wins he kept up a busy regional schedule in Canada, registering a notable early stoppage of former world-level contender Samuel Peter in December 2019 while retaining his WBC–NABF strap. Makhmudov added the WBA–NABA heavyweight title in July 2021 with a first-round KO of Pavel Sour and continued defending his regional holdings against experienced pros, notching stoppage victories over the likes of Erkan Teper and Mariusz Wach. September 2022 marked a step in his development when he won the vacant WBC Silver heavyweight title on points over Carlos Takam, producing the only decision victory among his higher-profile fights to that point. The Takam win demonstrated that Makhmudov could go the distance against a seasoned opponent as he moved into the international spotlight. Makhmudov’s progress has not been linear. He suffered a fourth-round TKO loss to Agit Kabayel in December 2023 in Riyadh with regional belts on the line, and absorbed another stoppage defeat to Guido Vianello in August 2024. He rebounded with a second-round KO of Miljan Rovcanin in May 2024 and a comeback TKO over Ricardo Brown in June 2025. In October 2025 Makhmudov won the WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title with a 12-round decision over David Allen in Sheffield, but his run with that belt ended when he faced Tyson Fury at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April 2026, losing a 12-round unanimous decision (120–108, 120–108, 119–109). That loss returned him to non-champion status. Active and still campaigning in the heavyweight division, Makhmudov’s résumé is defined by early stoppages, regional title success and a willingness to take rising and veteran opponents alike. At 21–3 (19 KOs) he remains a notable power puncher in the heavyweight ranks who has tested himself against seasoned contenders and high-profile opposition.