AFTER knocking out Johnny Fisher and earning a promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing, Dave Allen has been linked to a host of names in the heavyweight division. Now, promoter Eddie Hearn has labelled Allen as ‘mad’ for his opponent selection.
Allen, 24-7-2 (19 KOs), controversially lost out to Fisher, 13-1 (11 KOs), back in December in Riyadh, with many fans believing that the British heavyweight veteran had done enough to end to Fisher’s undefeated record.
As a result, the pair ran it back five months later. This time, Allen made sure that the judges could not intervene, bringing the contest to a conclusive end in the fifth round, handing ‘The Romford Bull’ his first defeat.
Since then, Allen has been linked to high-profile names such as Joseph Parker and Deontay Wilder. Those whispers dampened amid rumours that Allen would headline a card in Sheffield this Autumn.
On his Instagram, Allen revealed that he was sent a list by Hearn and that he has picked the opponent who ‘scared’ him.
“After weeks of back and forth with Eddie Hearn about my next opponent, last week he sent me a list of five. All five I thought would be big favourites against me, but only one of them actually scared me,” revealed Allen.
“So, with that, I chose him in the hope that after all these years he helps me put in the perfect training camp and can put me on the world heavyweight stage.
“He could also knock me into the middle of next week but [you have] got to to be in it to win it.”
Rumours are now suggesting that hard-hitting Russian Arslan Makhmudov, 20-2 (19 KOs), will make the trip to take on Allen in South Yorkshire. The beastly puncher is seeking to re-announce himself as a title threat following two stoppage defeats in his last four outings.
Speaking with Boxing News, Hearn provided further detail on the intriguing decision-making of Allen.
“I think that Dave Allen is mad, that is what I think. 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, most physical – all because he told me that he was petrified of him.
“I said, ‘why would you choose from a list of six fighters, the one you are most petrified of’ and he said, ‘because I will be able to train properly’.
“I said, ‘Dave, I gave up trying to understand you years ago, but thank you because you are going to give us a thriller in October and that will be announced this week.”
Allen-Makhmudov is expected to take place on October 11th at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield. In the co-main event, Kieron Conway, 23-3-1 (7 KOs), is poised to take on George Liddard, 12-0 (7 KOs), in an attempted first defence of the British middleweight title he won by knocking out Gerome Warburton.
