Dave Allen takes a step up in class against former heavyweight contender Arslanbek Makhmudov (20-2, 19 KOs) in the 12-round main event this Saturday, October 11, at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England.

Allen, 33, looks considerably slimmer for this fight than he did in his last two contests against Johnny Fisher. Whether that helps him against the big-punching 6’5 1/2″ Makhmudov is hard to know.

Power Edge Clearly With Makhmudov

Losing weight may not be enough for Allen (24-7-2, 19 KOs) to absorb the big punches from the Russian slugger. If Dave starts slow on Saturday night, Makhmudov will likely knock him out in three rounds. Allen is too basic a fighter to stand up to the big shots that Makhmudov will be clubbing him with.

The inside game that Allen depends on with the rabbit punches won’t work against Makhmudov. He’s dangerous in close and would be more than game if that’s Allen’s approach.

Undercard fights on DAZN

Junaid Bostan vs. Bilal Fawaz
Josh Padley vs. Reece Bellotti
Hamza Uddin vs. Muhsin Kizota
Ibraheem Sulaimaan vs. James Chereji
Conner Tudsbury vs. TBC
Joe Howarth vs. Kane Baker
Joe Hayden vs. TBC

The Allen vs. Makhmudov event streams live this Saturday, October 11, on DAZN, starting at 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT and 7:00 p.m. BST (British Summer Time). The ring walks for the Allen-Makhmudov fight are at approximately 4:47 p.m. ET / 1:47 p.m. PT and 9:47 p.m. BST.

Wilder Talk: Hype or Real Possibility?

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has floated the idea of Allen fighting Deontay Wilder next if he comes through Saturday’s contest with a win. It’s questionable whether Hearn can actually deliver that fight because the badly faded 39-year-old Wilder would likely want a lot of money to take a risky fight.

Even if Hearn can get that fight for Allen, what does a win over the one-armed Deontay prove? The mighty right hand that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ once had is now gone due to shoulder problems, and his punch resistance is no longer there. His confidence has disappeared after his two losses to Tyson Fury and a bad knockout defeat against Zhilei Zhang.

Any victory for Allen over Wilder would be strictly superficial. The fight would be just business to line the pockets of Allen at the British public’s expense. If Hearn wants to do something meaningful for Allen, he’d match him against one of these contenders:

Lenier Pero
Richard Torrez Jr.
Bakhodir Jalolov
Filip Hrgovic
Martin Bakole

“The man in front of him is very dangerous. Arslanbek Makhmudov isn’t what we thought he was, but he is very good. He’s better than Johnny Fisher. He’s probably a top 20 heavyweight, and that’s where Dave Allen sits as well,” said analyst Ade Oladipo on his channel.

“Internationally, I think people have Makhmudov as the favorite. I’m hearing 8,000 will be at the Sheffield Arena. So, people are really getting behind Dave Allen,” said Ade.

Since 2015, Olly Campbell has brought readers a clear ringside perspective and a steady voice on boxing’s biggest nights.

Olly Campbell has been covering boxing since 2010 and has written for Boxing News 24 since 2014. Based in the UK, he now reports on the worldwide boxing scene, delivering fight news, results, and features that connect fans to the sport’s biggest stories.

With a background in UK and European coverage, Olly has developed a style that blends sharp analysis with accessible writing, making his work valuable to both dedicated followers and casual fans. His reporting consistently highlights champions, contenders, and emerging prospects on the global stage.

Boxing News 24 » Dave Allen Steps Into the Fire: Faces Arslanbek Makhmudov in Dangerous Sheffield Main Event on October 11

Last Updated on 10/06/2025