DONCASTER, England – When it was announced last week that Dave Allen would face Filip Hrgovic, many were surprised to see Allen step in with such a high-level operator so soon after his previous outing.

Just one fight ago, Allen, 25-8-2 (20 KOs), was widely beaten by Arslanbek Makhmudov in October, absorbing heavy punishment over the course of the contest. Russia’s 259lb Makhmudov often landed multiple shots for every one Allen returned, and the Yorkshireman later admitted he simply wasn’t good enough to win.

And the 19-1 (14 KOs) Hrgovic is widely viewed as a level above Makhmudov.

There are few heavyweights as durable as Allen, who has never been down in 35 professional contests – something he takes pride in – but there is growing concern that this represents a step too far. Allen’s toughness has allowed him to compete above his natural level, but it has also come at a cost.

Over a 14-year career, Allen has shared the ring with world-level operators such as Luis Ortiz, Dillian Whyte, Tony Yoka and Makhmudov. In each, he absorbed significant punishment, stopped by Ortiz and Yoka not by a single punch but through an accumulation of shots.

Yet Allen has always been willing. Often not in peak condition but never short on heart, he has built a following few British fighters can match. His popularity, coupled with his toughness, have meant that opportunities like this continue to come, even if there are risks.

One can’t forget Allen’s close call against the hard-hitting David Price.

In 2019, Allen faced Price after an impressive win over Lucas Browne. Many expected Allen to conquer the former Olympic bronze medalist, but instead Price dominated, breaking Allen down over 10 punishing rounds before his corner pulled him out. Allen later collapsed and was taken to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a concussion to his spine. For a time, his future in the sport appeared uncertain.

For those who were there that night, the memory still lingers.

Hrgovic may not carry the same one-punch power as Price, but he is a consistent, heavy hitter capable of inflicting sustained damage.

Allen, however, is not worried about the fight ending in a scenario similar to that of the Price bout.

“There's a risk in every fight,” Allen, 34, told BoxingScene. “Karim Berredjem [whom Allen stopped in a round in February] could have done that to me last time in Nottingham. You can get hurt in boxing. So boxing is a dangerous sport – you can always get hurt. But I'm not thinking about that in this fight, not at all. I'm thinking about winning the fight. People say it's a mismatch. On paper, I can see why you would think it's very one-sided, but I'm not going to say it. I've boxed Tony Yoka, Luis Ortiz, Dillan Whyte. Look at who I've boxed, look at all of them. I'm not scared of Filip Hrgovic.

“I'm not standing here and telling you, ‘I'm going to beat Filip Hrgovic, 1,000,000 per cent, it's a done deal, I'm better than him,’ I'm not saying that. I've watched him – again, I do watch him. There’s a few things I see that I think I can capitalize on and I give him a lot of problems. I'm confident about giving a really good fight here, I think I can really, really push him.”

It is difficult to criticize Allen for taking the fight. He is, after all, a prizefighter.

Headlining at the home of his local football club, Doncaster Rovers, on May 16, against a heavyweight ranked No. 4 by Ring Magazine, represents both opportunity and risk.

“Look, the age he's at, what's he going to do? His ambition is to fight for a world title,” the promoter of the fight, Frank Warren, told BoxingScene. “To fight for a world title, you've got to beat somebody, and this is another opportunity for him. It's a tough fight. I mean, he's up against it. I say it how it is. Hrgovic, he's the Queensbury fighter, Allen is the Matchroom fighter, and obviously I want my man to win. But I like Dave Allen. He's a nice guy, he's got a really nice way about him, he's a man of the people, and I'm sure he'll do his best. And if he does win, then he'll do so deservedly in front of his own fans, and it's certainly going to spur him on and drive him on, that's for sure.”

Warren does not shy away from the dangers.

“Of course there are,” he said. “They're heavyweights. They get hit on the chin, they get knocked over. I mean, that happens. That's what big punches do.”

Allen’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith, agrees.

“I've got to be honest, I think every heavyweight fight is dangerous,” Smith told BoxingScene, “but has Dave been in with big punchers – maybe bigger punchers than Filip Hrgovic? Yes, and that's again what comes to the perfect shot in heavyweight boxing. So, yes, it is dangerous – of course it is. But that's what drives Dave to go and give it his all, and that's what he's said about many times.”

Tom Ivers is a lifelong fight fan and former amateur boxer who has a master’s degree in sports journalism. Tom joined BoxingScene in 2024 and is now a key part of the UK and social media teams.