Dave Allen’s quest for self-assessment and career revival in boxing

Boxer Dave Allen, who has achieved 18 knockouts among his 23 wins, expressed his motivation, stating, “I don’t want to live a life of regret,” and adding, “I want to know how good I am.” The 32-year-old heavyweight, whose professional career began in December 2012, marking twelve years since his debut, is preparing for what is described as one of his most formidable opponents to date: the highly-regarded British prospect Johnny Fisher. Following a significant defeat to Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke in September 2023, Allen’s professional trajectory appeared uncertain. Nevertheless, a win against Fisher, who remains undefeated in his 12 professional bouts, on 21 December in Saudi Arabia – as part of the undercard for the Oleksandr Usyk versus Tyson Fury rematch – has the potential to reignite the Yorkshireman’s career. This potential resurgence would not be unprecedented for Allen, who has previously experienced losses against prominent contenders such as Dillian Whyte and Luis Ortiz. He notably secured an upset victory over Lucas Browne, a former holder of the WBA Regular title who later failed a drug test. Speaking to BBC Sport, he acknowledged, “I fell short at the top level which I don’t mind saying.” He elaborated on his win against Browne: “I beat a former champion [in Browne] but he was past his best so I never knew how good I was.” Regarding his upcoming opponent, Allen stated, “With Fisher I think the best version of me can beat this fella because he’s only a baby.” Reflecting on his career, which comprises 31 fights, 23 victories, and six challenging defeats, Allen disclosed his ongoing motivation, which persisted after he commenced his professional journey with a six-round points win against Rolandas Cesna. He further explained, “It comes down to having no regrets.” Allen clarified his financial situation, saying, “People talk about money and all the rest of it, but my life is alright, I’m sound, I don’t need to box, I can go and do other things.” He drew a parallel to his father’s experience: “My old man is 66, he used to be a boxer and I know he’s riddled with regret. “I didn’t want to do that. I’d rather go and if I get beat then I know I wasn’t good enough.” Johnny Fisher is establishing himself as a rising heavyweight contender, boasting 11 knockouts among his 12 victories. Supporting the fighter known as the ‘Doncaster De La Hoya’ has, at times, proven to be a source of considerable frustration for fans. In 2018, Allen’s stunning knockout of the previously undefeated Nick Webb generated significant optimism. However, a demanding, back-and-forth contest against Ariel Bracamonte, despite resulting in a stoppage victory, tempered those rising expectations. Allen himself was highly critical of that particular performance, recalling, “That was awful. Another wake-up call – how many do I need?” He admitted, “I was [tired] after one round. No excuses. I was not fit enough, not conditioned enough, I needed to take a good look at myself.” Allen had previously declared his retirement in 2020, attributing the decision to issues with gambling and the demands of a rigorous boxing lifestyle. Six years later, it appears he might finally be heeding his own counsel. Allen commented, “This is the best training camp I’ve had by a long way.” He reflected on his current chance: “When I got this opportunity I just thought, even if it’s too late and a lot of people think it is, I’m not sure if it is even if I’m old – I’ve got miles on the clock. “I know I’m only 32 but I’ve been in some hard fights. I thought, if I put 100% in when I come home [from training], I’ll have no regrets. I’m proud of myself because I didn’t think I could do it. The diet has been better than ever.” He acknowledged a minor deviation, stating, “Like I say, it’s never 100%, I saw a Ferrero Rocher [chocolate] in the fridge the other week and I had it. It’s as close to 100% as I can do, so I’m happy with myself.” Clarke’s victory over Allen in 2023 marked the sixth defeat in Allen’s 31-fight career. Known as ‘The White Rhino’, Allen enters the upcoming contest in Riyadh following two victories in smaller venues against opponents who collectively had accumulated 39 losses. Allen, who withdrew from the Clarke fight in the sixth round due to a perforated eardrum, expressed that he “never turned up” for that particular bout. However, he maintained that he was “really excited” about the prospect of fighting 25-year-old Fisher. Allen further stated, “After the Frazer Clarke fight, I said if I was to go into another big fight then I would turn up with the expectation of winning.” He expressed regret over the Clarke fight, saying, “I would give all the money back for that fight now just to erase it. “It was just one of them days when I wasn’t there. Preparation wasn’t there, I never turned up. Mentally I wasn’t there, I didn’t really want to be there, same with the [David] Price fight [in 2019].” He conveyed his current readiness: “I’m ready to fight now and I haven’t felt like this since the Browne fight. When you have hard fights, it takes something from you every time. I’ve not wanted to be in a fight in probably six years. “This is the first time that youthful exuberance is back in me. I’m really excited for it because I think we will see the best of me.”