Popular English heavyweight Dave Allen’s next fight looks set in stone and, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn, will be a “thriller."
Allen has been riding high since his spectacular fifth-round finish of rising heavyweight Johnny Fisher in May. Once a promising heavyweight himself, Allen was a favorite amongst British fight fans, but his out the ring antics were detrimental to his performances inside it and he soon slumped down to the small-hall scene.
The win over Fisher propelled Allen back into the spotlight and back into the hearts of many who had followed him for years. It seemed as though the man who once saw training as optional had finally learned his lesson and might finally reach his potential.
Allen, 24-7-2 (19 KOs), was rumoured to be challenging for the vacant British title against Jeaime Tshikeva [TKV], but the British Boxing Board of Control instead ordered Tshikeva to face Frazer Clarke for the Lonsdale belt. That left Allen needing an opponent to headline the Sheffield Arena on a rumoured date of October 19. The name of the mooted opponent was Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov, a heavy-handed Russian who is 20-2 (19 KOs) as a professional and has only been beaten by Agit Kabayel and Guido Vianello. Hearn was recently asked for his thoughts on Makhmudov as an opponent for Allen and all but confirmed the clash.
“I think Dave Allen's mad,” Hearn said. “I mean, I was in a situation where I gave him a list of names and he chose the most dangerous one, the one that would probably be the most gruelling, the most physical, all because he told me he was petrified of him. I said, ‘Why would you choose from a list of six fighters, the one you're most petrified of?’ He said, ‘Because I'll be able to train properly.’ I said, ‘Dave I've given up trying to understand you years ago, but thank you because you're going to give us a thriller in October.’
“That'll be announced this week.”
