Dave Allen announced his retirement from the sport of boxing back in 2020, partly because of a particularly brutal sparring session with heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk.
The fan-favourite had flown to Ukraine to help Usyk prepare for a heavyweight fight with Derek Chisora, and was concussed in the ring at the hands of the former undisputed cruiserweight champion.
Despite that experience, Allen has since announced his return to the sport, planning a low key bout before going in search of something bigger like the British title. What’s more, he’s up for sparring Usyk again.
He told Boxing UK that Team Usyk fancied him as a sparring partner to prepare for Tyson Fury should that fight ever be made.
Now that it’s looking likely for the undisputed title, ‘The White Rhino’ joked that he may have to make a call to his countryman to let him know.
“They did tell me if they fought Fury I would be brought over because stylistically I’m perfect for Fury. So that tells you how I box in the gym compared to how I fight in the ring.
So, if the fight happens that will be a couple of interesting phone calls – one from them to me and me to Tyson saying ‘I’m going to go to Ukraine, mate, if you don’t mind.'”
Nothing but positive news has come from both camps about the bout between Usyk and Fury, and the optimistic fans expect to see it next for both fighters.
With the first weekend in March the date in mind, it won’t be long until Usyk is flying in his sparring partners – that’s if they haven’t already. It’s unclear if his team have decided to follow through with their offer to Allen.