Dave Allen is set to return to the ring early next year in another significant fight, according to his promoter, Eddie Hearn.
The Matchroom Boxing chief is planning to place Allen in a headline slot on January 24 on a UK show, either in the North East or the Doncaster-born fighter’s home county of Yorkshire.
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Hearn is aiming to get Allen out again next yearCredit: Getty
To qualify as a bout worthy of topping a bill, Hearn insisted during a joint interview with Allen that it will have to be a fight with jeopardy.
Quizzed on the type of opponent he hopes to face, Allen insisted he wanted another ‘proper challenge’ after coming up short to Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this month.
The British cult hero snubbed suggested match-ups with Joe Joyce, Otto Wallin, and the winner of the British heavyweight title clash between Frazer Clarke and Jeamie TKV, before telling iFL TV: “[I want to fight] someone like Zhilei Zhang.
“If I could pick anyone, I would pick Zhilei Zhang; that is who I would pick.”
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Hearn was initially taken aback by Allen’s pick, but he eventually came around to the idea.
“You have got a great chance against Zhang, do you know why? Because you have got a great chin,” Hearn added.
“We collectively thought that Makhmudov would fade, but Zhang will one million per cent fade.
“That would be massive. I am up for that.”
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Zhang hasn’t set foot in the ring since a stoppage loss to Agit Kabayel in February.
He had been in line to face Derek Chisora in the Brit’s 50th and final professional outing on December 13 in Manchester.
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Zhang flattened Wilder last June and is now being targeted as a potential opponent for AllenCredit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom
However, Chisora has since pivoted to a trilogy bout with Dillian Whyte.
Zhang’s advisor, Terry Lane, claims his client will likely return to the ring in January in a homecoming fight on Chinese shores.
But they may opt to face Allen in England if the money is right.
Before his defeat to Kabayel, Zhang recorded a statement-making knockout win over Deontay Wilder last June.
The victory secured him a spot back at the heavyweight top table.
Yet he is now a long way off title contention, with only one major sanctioning body, the WBO, ranking him within its top five.