The career of Dave Allen has been anything but conventional.
Twists, turns, ups, and downs have defined it, and this Saturday he has the chance to edge closer to a fairytale ending. The heavyweight from Doncaster’s 24-7-2 (19 KOs) record isn’t impressive on the surface, but Allen has taken on some of the most dangerous men in the division, usually on late notice, for little money, and with next-to-no hope of winning. This weekend’s fight at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, however, is different. Allen will take on another feared heavyweight – the 6ft 6ins Russian powerhouse Arslanbek Makhmudov. But unlike before, Allen is actually fancied by many to do the business.
Gone is the young man who was more joker than fighter, skipping training and turning up to the scales in a shape not readily associated with a professional athlete. In his place stands an experienced veteran of the game, still a prankster at heart, but finally giving the sport the dedication his talents deserve. Allen is full of confidence, riding high off a fifth round stoppage of Johnny Fisher in May, but this weekend’s opponent presents a much more difficult mountain to climb.
“When he was still unbeaten, he was the bogeyman of the division,” Allen told BoxingScene about Makhmudov. “No one wanted to face him. He's had two defeats. One to an Olympian [Guido Vianello] and one to who I would say is a top five heavyweight [Agit Kabayel]. Makhmudov is still a very good fighter.
“12 months ago, it wasn't safe for me to box Johnny Fisher. I was going to get knocked out in a round by Johnny Fisher and now I'm going to beat Makhmudov apparently – easily. It's like, ‘I'm not sure. Steady up. It's a hard ask.’ I'm up against it but I think it will bring out the best in me.”
For Allen, a fighter who has so often left people questioning his choices, this Saturday is about answers.
“In victory or defeat, this will bring out the best in me,” he said. “This is all I wanted, really. I wanted to know how good I was. That's what this is about now. I want to know how good I am. ‘Am I any good? Am I not? Am I beyond British title level? Can I get to fringe world level?’ This will tell me.
“Whether I am or not, as long as I'm doing my best, I'm happy. That's what this is about. I'm back here. I'm training hard. I'm living well and dieting well. Whatever happens, happens. I just wanted that chance to really see where I'm at, and this is it.”
Allen has been here before. In 2019, he was one win away from the division’s heavy hitters and the big bucks. He faced David Price, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, in a fight that left his career looking finished. Allen again turned up in poor condition, withdrew on his stool, and was hospitalized following 10 torrid rounds.
Now 33 years old, he insists he’s a different man in and out of the ring.
“Different completely in every way,” Allen said. “I think I'm a much better boxer, more experienced and seasoned. As a man, the difference is unbelievable. When I boxed David Price, I disappeared for the last five weeks. I'm in a much better position now. I've got more stability. I'm a normal guy. I've got two kids. I can't really go missing now.
“I think Makhmudov and David Price are similar in physical attributes. Makhmudov can box. He was a very good amateur boxer in the World Series of Boxing. He was Russia's No.1.”
Allen’s been written off plenty of times before, and he knows the challenge he’s walking into.
“I'm aware of the size of the task,” he said. “I'm not buying into this, ‘You're the favourite with the bookies.’ I'm aware this is a big task. I've gone from beating Johnny Fisher to now fringe world title level. I'm under no illusion of how hard it is. I'm training hard and on the night I know it's going to be murder. It's going to be horrific. I'm aware of that, but I'm ready for it, and what will be will be.”
For Allen, boxing has always been about proving himself as a fighter, a hard man, a warrior. The term “quitter” hurts any fighter, but it cuts particularly deep in Allen’s pride. He has been labeled as such in two contests, against Price in 2019, and against Frazer Clarke in 2023.
Saturday’s fight is personal. It’s about closing old wounds and proving to the doubters that he is willing to go to hell and back to claim victory.
“I get stick sometimes, ‘Oh you quit twice.’ When I boxed David Price I was absolutely fucked,” Allen said. “I ended up unconscious and paralyzed for 45 minutes at the hospital. If you read the hospital report, you’d be shocked. I was fucked. People always say, ‘You quit in that fight,’ fucking hell, read the report. I didn't quit, I just took a fucking good hiding that night that not many would have stood up to for as long as I did.
“The Makhmudov fight is everything. I'm going to put it all on the line. The Frazer Clarke fight, I was a bit disinterested. I didn't prepare properly and I got beat by the better man. The David Price fight I got pushed to my limit and I couldn't continue, physically I was done. But I'll be fit for this one and I'm willing to put it all in.
“Whatever happens, if I have to go flat on my back, I have to go flat on my back. I don't want to but I will if I have to because my mind frame is different.”
That new mindset may be Allen’s greatest weapon, and he’ll need it against the heavy handed Russian.
“I'll be fit and ready and at it. I won't be sitting on my fucking stool, that's for definite,” he said. “I'll be ready for this one. If I have to get put on my back, I have to get put on my back. I have a lot of people coming and if that's what needs to happen to me, that's what will need to happen, but I'm here to fucking win it.”
It’s a stark contrast from the Allen of six years ago. Now a trainer and manager of a host of young talented fighters, he is less concerned with the limelight and more focused on providing a platform for others.
While there are still whispers of a big money fight with former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, there are more important things to Allen.
“You never fucking know really. Some bollocks gets chatted, you never know if you’re coming or going sometimes,” Allen joked of a fight with Wilder. “If I beat Makhmudov I’ll be in the driver’s seat. I will decide what happens. It’s alright talking about [Anthony] Joshua, [Deontay] Wilder and [Joseph] Parker, I think I’d rather headline Sheffield Arena with a different good opponent, and keep bringing big time boxing back local. Let my lads get on the bill and keep building.
“I think I'm still improving. I really think I am. These are the first proper camps I've ever done. I think I'm getting better. We have to beat Makhmudov first. It's the performance more than the result for me. That's what I've said the last two fights. It's about the performance not the result. Once you're boxing a guy like Makhmudov, when you're me, I'm not a world class fighter. When you're boxing Makhmudov the result is the result, it’s the performance for me. It's how I perform. Am I at this level? I guess we'll get our answer soon enough.”
“How good am I?” It’s the question Allen has chased his whole career, and come Saturday night, he’ll finally get his answer.
