It will be 31-year-old Allen’s first high-profile fight since beating Dorian Darch in February 2020, after which he took time out to rebuild and fight on small hall shows around the UK. In the years before, Allen was a much-loved regular on Sky who faced the likes of David Price, Lucas Browne, Dillian Whyte and Luis Ortiz.
In the build-up to his latest return, ‘The White Rhino’ has been speaking to Boxing UK about Conor Benn’s drug test trials and tribulations which Benn recently claimed have been put to bed.
“No one has a clue what to think. We’ll see him back in the ring soon and he’s evolved into a cracking fighter. Whether he’s done that legally or not I’m not really sure because the waters are so murky.”
Allen explains that he has “nothing against him” on a personal level and that he “got on with him really well”. However, he is now in no rush to pay to see him fight just yet.
“I would never pay a PPV to watch him until it’s all cleared up. If he failed his test and put his hands up he should be banned for life, but you forgive and he carries on like all of them.”
He goes on to share his annoyance at seeing former drug cheats heralded as greats.
“That’s what annoys me when you’ve got, ‘Dave Allen, he’s shit him’. Listen, I’ve never failed a drug test and I never will. So I’m better than all your favourite boxers because I’m clean. They shouldn’t even be boxing.”
It’s a fair argument on paper, though one that will divide the opinions of fight fans.