That is the opinion of Fury’s former opponent Dillian Whyte ahead of Saturday night’s main event on the latest Ring card.

Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs) is infamous for his ability to start fights fast with 16 of his 19 stoppages all secured inside the opening two rounds.

Now Whyte has urged the Dagestani puncher to launch a similarly early assault on Fury in an attempt to catch "The Gypsy King" cold outdoors at Spurs.

“I do think this could be a banana skin for Tyson Fury,” Whyte told The Ring.

“If Makhmudov rushes him early, applies the pressure from the start and tries to get it done early I think Fury can get caught cold. We need to see an early onslaught from Makhmudov.

“Fury likes to find his rhythm and get into a groove but I think Makhmudov is just as big as him and is a big puncher. If he can get to him early then he definitely has a chance.
But having said that, if he can’t get to him early he stands no chance in this fight. I think he should try to press him early and look for an early knockout.

“If Makhmudov fails to do that he’s going to get outboxed, beaten up and then stopped around eight or nine rounds in.”

Whyte (31-4, 21 KOs) challenged Fury for his WBC heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium four years ago this month. But things did not go to plan for "The Bodysnatcher," who was cut in the fourth and then stopped in the sixth by his compatriot.

But the challenger had surprised everyone, even Fury, by deciding to emerge for the start of the first round in the southpaw stance. It was suggested that the move was a tactic cooked up during training camp but Whyte admits he only decided to do it once he got in the ring.

He explained: “Look, I was fighting someone unpredictable and so I wanted to try and match that. Fury has always banked on being the awkward one so sometimes you need to do the same. Fighting is all about offsetting people’s rhythm and movement. I suppose it might have worked because the first round was awkward for both of us.

“You have to understand the psyche of people and the mentality of fighters. That’s what that was all about. I hadn’t planned it in camp and only decided to do it once I got in there. I’m a natural fighter and I’m always trying to do whatever I can to give me an advantage.

“But this is a different fight and I think Makhmudov just needs to walk him down from the start. He’s big enough to cut off the ring and his reach is good enough to give Fury a problem. He should just walk him down, apply the pressure and make it messy and scrappy.”