Dave Allen has previously sparred boxing great Oleksandr Usyk, and while Usyk may be considered as the standout heavyweight of this generation, there is one man that Allen believed to be superior after facing him during a training camp.
Having conquered the cruiserweight scene, Usyk moved up to heavyweight in 2019 and brought Allen in the following year to help him acclimatise to the division and best prepare him for a showdown with durable Briton, Derek Chisora.
Allen has sparred the pound-for-pound star on a total of five occasions and has regularly praised the skill, footwork and mentality of the 39-year-old, who vacated his three heavyweight world titles last month.
However, on his social media, Allen admitted that he was more impressed by Tyson Fury, labelling ‘The Gypsy King’ as untouchable back in 2015, prior to his legendary win over Wladimir Klitschko, when he captured the unified heavyweight crown.
“If I had a ranking of all the fighters that I have shared the ring with. Number one, from personal experience, I would have Fury above Usyk. That might be a stylistic thing.
“When I sparred Tyson in 2015 he was nearly untouchable, so big but so athletic, I couldn’t really get near him to be honest. I sparred him again in 2018 and he was obviously a bit bigger then, he could really punch at that point.
“So I’d have Tyson at number one but that is from my personal experience and obviously things can change that in terms of styles and stuff but I thought that Fury was the best.”
Fury will return to action later this month as he takes on Mariusz Wach in Thailand at the Max Muaythai Stadium, with that bout serving as a warm-up before the planned clash with Anthony Joshua later this year.
