South Yorkshire boxer impatient for big title scrap

Dave Allen hopes boxing's administrators will give him a crack at the one belt he wants more than any other.
David Allen celebrates at Sheffield ArenaDavid Allen celebrates at Sheffield Arena
David Allen celebrates at Sheffield Arena

The unbeaten heavyweight hopes the Boxing Board of Control will sanction him to take part in an eliminator for the British title.

Initially, his name was pencilled for a tick-over fight on a Stefy Bull show at Doncaster Dome, this weekend.

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But he has decided against that and wants a more meaningful bout instead.

“We have agreed to wait and hopefully this week we might find out a bit more about what my chances are at getting a shot at a title” said Allen, 24.

“Promoter Eddie Hearn originally told me that he wanted to make a fight with David Price for June 25 and I said yes to that but Price has other things going on and is back in the top ten of the IBF. (Price is on the Tony Bellew undercard at Goodison Park on May 29.)

“I can’t get out of bed for a four-rounder now I want to be fighting for titles or in eliminators, for the English, British or Commonwealth titles. The British belt is the one I have always wanted since I started boxing.

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“I am ready for it, even if some people don’t think I am. Maybe I didn’t have much amateur experience but I hit hard enough to challenge any heavyweight.

“I am ready to roll the dice but a lot depends on how the British Boxing Board of Control sees it.”

Allen, from Conisbrough, loves the big occasion, has boxed twice on Matchroom shows and knows the importance of fighting on live TV.

His last fight was on Kell Brook’s undercard at Sheffield Arena, but the contest, as a spectacle, was poor.

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“The problem was the opponent (American Jason Gavern) - he was terrible. Richard Towers had pulled out in the same week and in the last few days I wasn’t very professional. It was the second time I had a pull-out so late and my last performance was pretty poor all round.

“But going for a title will see me 100 per cent.”

Allen has only boxed one British fighter, out of the 10 he’s faced (nine wins, one draw.)

“A lot have been Eastern Europeans and weren’t great and I am impatient to fight big fights.”

The boxer says he needs to transfer some of his sparring performances into the ring on fight night.

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“I am getting better by sparring big-name, world class opposition in the gym - and I have had my way with a few of them.”

Allen, who has worked as a teaching assistant in Wakefield, says he feels sorry for Dereck Chisora, who he says is now getting “beaten up” too often.