David Allen Stops Gavern, Calls Out For David Price

By Elliot Foster

Sheffield Arena, Sheffield - David Allen extended his unbeaten ledger to 10 fights with a retirement victory.

The Conisbrough heavyweight suffered disappointment on fight week with the withdrawal of Richard Towers, who he was supposed to face in a British title eliminator, and ended up coming up against Jason Gavern at the Sheffield Arena.

Allen (9-0-1, 6 KOs) came up against the Orlando veteran (27-21-4, 12 KOs) in an eight-round showdown as part of the undercard to Kell Brook’s bid to retain his IBF welterweight title against mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier.

And despite the struggles of a poor performance due to the limitations offered by Gavern, Allen was handed the win after the 38-year-old, who took the fight on just four days’ notice, retired in his corner at the end of the fourth round, with his corner citing that “there is something wrong with him” as he rubbed the back of his head vigorously.

Gavern, who was deducted two points by referee Howard Foster, went in to the fight to spoil and to just earn his money, but those funds were in danger of not reaching him as he was warned by British Boxing Board of Control general secretary Robert Smith that his purse would be withheld, pending an investigation, should he be disqualified.

But Allen can now move on to bigger and better things as he looks towards the top dogs domestically in the heavyweight division.

“David Price is looking for a comeback fight,” Allen told Sky Sports.

The fight between the two Davids –– Allen and Price –– is one that promoter Eddie Hearn is keen to make and the 24-year-old ‘White Rhino’ believes he’ll have more than enough to beat the Liverpudlian.

He continued: “I'll take him [David Price] out. He's got no chin. Let's do it next.”

Andy Townend lived up to his ring moniker as he claimed a stoppage victory over Craig Poxton.

The English super featherweight title, held by ‘The KO Kid’, was on the line at the Sheffield Arena and it was retained in style with three first round knockdowns.

Townend advanced to 16-3 (10 KOs) as he dismantled the bedazzled but heavily tattooed Poxton, who slipped to 9-4 (1 KO), with a sensational showing as part of the undercard to Kell Brook‘s bid to retain his IBF welterweight title against mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier of Canada, which is being aired exclusively live on Sky Sports in the UK and on Showtime in the States.

It was a highlight reel performance from the 26-year-old, who has seven stoppages from his last nine victories, as he landed a heavy right uppercut to lead to Poxton’s first visit to the canvas.

The second knockdown was started by the left hook and finished off perfectly with the right hand.

To his credit, Poxton, 27, who is from Lowestoft and went to school with Olympian Anthony Ogogo, got up twice, but it was all over after a right hand to the side of the head was landed, meaning that referee Michael Alexander had seen enough and the fight was waved off with 12 seconds of the first round remaining.

Elsewhere on the card, Leigh Wood extended his ledger with a stoppage to claim his first title in the paid code.

The Nottingham featherweight (17-1, 9 KOs) ended the challenge of Lee Glover (9-4, 3 KOs) after 66 seconds of the second round to clinch the vacant Midlands Area title.

And Jordan Gill (16-0, 3 KOs) dropped Chris Adaway (4-13-2) in the second round en-route to a six-round decision victory, taking it by 58 points to 55, while Lee Appleyard (7-1, 2 KOs) grabbed a statement stoppage over Josh Baillie (3-3, 1 KO) inside three rounds.