So far, he has fought 33 times, winning 24, losing seven and drawing twice. He has been matched very hard at times and then at other times, he has won three or four on the bounce against journeymen from boxing\u2019s lost nations. There often seems to be no direction to Allen\u2019s career. <\/p>\n
\u2022 Buy Itauma vs Whyte on DAZN ahead of Saturday\u2019s heavyweight clash<\/a><\/p>\n In October, after 13 years as a professional boxer, he is the main attraction at the Sheffield Arena when he fights the latest Russian boxing beast, Arslanbek Makhmudov. There was a time, not long ago, when Makhmudov was considered the most dangerous heavyweight in the sport. <\/p>\n \u201cNaseem Hamed, Kell Brook and now Dave Allen topping the bill at the Sheffield Arena,\u201d said Allen. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to believe.\u201d It might seem strange that a man without a title, with seven losses, who less than a year ago looked like he was out in the boxing wilderness, is the main attraction on a big night at a big venue. Well, that is just part of Allen\u2019s appeal. <\/p>\n Allen deserves his top-billing position for selecting Makhmudov and stopping the previously unbeaten Johnny Fisher<\/a> back in May. The Fisher win, in a furious rematch, was both destructive and smart<\/a>. Allen can often fight like he is bored, running out of ideas and stamina at about the same time. This Dave Allen \u2013 the one from the two fights with Fisher \u2013 is a different fighter to the man who lost to Tony Yoka and David Price and any of the seven men who beat him. <\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Dave Allen (right) dropped Johnny Fisher twice en route to a stoppage in their rematch (Getty Images)<\/p>\n The selection of Makhmudov was a pleasant surprise, a fight with a few genuine unknowns and the potential to be very, very lively. \u201cDave had a lot of choice,\u201d said Eddie Hearn<\/a>, the promoter. \u201cHe told me he wanted a challenge and that is how he ended up with Makhmudov. He wouldn\u2019t have been my first choice.\u201d <\/p>\n Back in October of 2023, when Riyadh Season launched, Makhmudov sent a chilling message to all the heavyweights when he won in just 70 seconds on a monumental night. He is big, standing 6ft 6in and close to 19st in weight, and he is very dangerous. He has stopped or knocked out 19 of the 20 men he has beaten. He fights with a dismissive quality, part arrogance and part bully \u2013 he is a classic Soviet fighter, an Ivan Drago for the ages. <\/p>\n However, Makhmudov the invincible vanished in December of 2023 when a German craftsman called Agit Kabayel boxed his ears off, hit him to the body, broke his heart, and left the hulking Russian in a bloody heap in round four. It was a shock and so was defeat No 2 last summer, to Italy\u2019s Guido Vianello. <\/p>\n At about this time last year, both Makhmudov and Allen were on the outside looking in; then Allen had the two Fisher fights and Makhmudov blasted a previously unbeaten boxer out in under two minutes, and suddenly they are back. On the brink, then matched.<\/p>\n Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing<\/p>\n Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\n![\"Dave](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2215617317.jpeg\")
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