SHEFFIELD, England - Arslanbek Makhmudov outpointed Dave Allen over 12 rounds in Sheffield and called out Anthony Joshua in the aftermath. The scores were 117-109, 116-110 and 115-111 in the Russian's favor.
Although many onlookers had fancied the in-form Allen to do the business over Makhmudov the Briton had always reminded the media that he was a huge underdog heading into the contest. Russia’s Makhmudov was a standout amateur and had competed at a much higher level than Allen who, though incredibly likeable, has always struggled to dedicate himself to the sport.
Allen was in the shape of his life, thankfully so, because he had to absorb incredible amounts of punishment. It seemed as though he was willing to go through hell to secure a shot at one of the division's leading names. For all his effort, and the incredible support from the 10,000 inside the Utilita Arena, it wasn’t to be.
Anthony Joshua is a name that has been touted all week should Makhmudov win and so it proved. “Anthony Joshua where are you at?” he said post-fight. “I come for you, brother, I come for you. Anthony Joshua, let me know when, brother.”
Makhmudov, 21-2 (19 KOs), towered over Allen as the two men met in the center of the ring. The intimidating figure wasted no time in feeling out the Doncaster man and immediately fired in a hard right that landed on Allen’s gloves. Makhmudov bullied Allen around the ring, planting his right hand over the top of Allen’s guard whenever he got the chance.
Allen was spurred on by the 10,000-strong home crowd who had come to support him. “There’s only one Dave Allen!” they cried, much like one of Allen's idols, Ricky Hatton, used to receive.
Makhmudov’s dominance continued in the second, landing clean, hard right hands through Allen’s guard. However, the iron-chinned Allen wouldn’t budge, and waved the Russian giant on, delivering a left hook in return before the round’s close.
Allen, 33, was warned for a low blow in the second and in the third he again landed a shot downstairs that the Russian complained about, but this time it was ruled legal. It seemed, for a moment, if Allen was going to defeat 36-year-old Makhmudov, then the body would be where to start. Allen, spurred on by the knowledge he could hurt Makhmudov, pushed forwards.
"There’s only one Dave Allen!” again circled the arena in Round 4 and Dave Allen, the only one, needed all the help he could get. He again marched forwards, pressing Makhmudov back. Allen was losing the rounds, however, but it didn’t seem to bother him; he had stated in the build-up that if he was still there after four then Makhmudov was in trouble.
Allen edged forwards as the fifth session got underway but ate a stiff jab from Makhmudov as he came into range. Allen again stood firm, and as the Russian’s back hit the ropes Allen sunk a left hand into the body that keeled Makhmudov over.
Allen’s pace seemed to drop in the sixth, and Makhmudov started to push him back. Allen was taking punishment but late into the session he fired over a wild right that landed on the Russian’s chin. Makhmudov backed away, and as Allen went in to follow it up, the bell sounded, and Makhmudov strolled back to his stool.
Spurred on by his success late in the previous session, Allen came on, but Makhmudov was clever and tapped away, scoring points as Allen plodded in. The pair came together as Allen again marched in and Makhmudov tied up his shorter opponent as he lay on the ropes. The referee Steve Gray deducted a point from the Russian for the infringement, and Allen, ever honest, seemed to know he’d claimed a lucky point.
It looked as though Makhmudov had realized deep into the eighth that he wasn’t going to bowl over Allen. The Russian let Allen march forwards, but would pick him apart. For all of Allen’s efforts he was clearly behind on the cards, only a knockout would do.
Allen dutifully took the fight to Makhmudov in the ninth, belting in a right hand that shook the Russian to his boots and knocking out his gumshield. Makhmudov and his corner took their time putting it back in, but Allen got straight back to work. He belted in another right that again shook Makhmudov. The crowd went wild and Allen gulped back air before hurling another blow. Allen, enlivened, unloaded. Makhmudov was happy to hear the sound of the bell.
“There’s only one Dave Allen!” yet again shook the Utilita Arena, and Allen responded. He fired home a hard right that planted his enemy against the ropes. It was clear Allen had given all he could heading into the 11th, and was running on fumes. The session began and Allen sucked in what air he could as the Russian came into range. Allen just couldn’t push Makhmudov back as he did before, and was taking shots, hard, and often. Allen’s face was swelling from the punishment, but he bravely fought on, and pushed Makhmudov back as the round came to an end.
The 12th began with a huge cheer, the 24-8-2 (19 KOs) Allen had fought bravely, but he was behind. The pair met, where else but center ring, and Allen whipped in a left hook that knocked Makhmudov’s head back. Allen knew he needed something big and pushed forwards, throwing everything he could, but never enough.
“Scariest man I’ve ever seen, but he’s a sweetheart,” said Allen about Makhmudov. “I weren’t good enough. He was too big and too good. Just not good enough, it’s a bitter pill to swallow, but it's alright. I’ve had to swallow it eight times. The crowd in here – I’ve never seen anything like that in my life – I nearly cried. I’ve never been hit like that in my life… but I had to hear the final bell."
