Dave Allen has made a quiet comeback to the sport of boxing, but the fan-favourite heavyweight from Doncaster is ready to step up once more.
Allen (21-5-2, 18 KOs) announced his retirement from the sport back in November of 2020. The then 28-year-old cited a lack of love for the sport, and it’s well known that a concussive sparring session with Oleksandr Usyk contributed to his decision.
He made a lowkey return within a year, and has built up three wins over largely insignificant opponents in terms of his biggest fights – the crowning moment of which was a body shot stoppage of Lucas Browne headlining the O2 Arena.
That could change soon, though, with him being in consideration for a shot at Fabio Wardley’s British title. The pair came face to face recently in Manchester, and Allen revealed exactly what he said.
“Lovely to see Fabio Wardley tonight, nice to congratulate him on all his successes since I saw him last, also nice to tell him if I get my chance to fight him I have plenty left and I will be knocking him spark out, no hard feelings it’s only sport.”
Wardley (16-0, 15 KOs) has previously shown little interest in a fight with Allen, cocksure of an easy win and targetting other names.
That’s perhaps changed since the purse bid to defend his belt against Frazer Clarke was cancelled on the part of the challenger.
He’s now in the market for an opponent, and promoter Eddie Hearn recently told Boxing Social he was open to the fight – although did highlight that there was a danger, as proven in the past, of an unmotivated Allen showing up.
“I think that’s a good fight … When you get this Dave Allen, it’s a good fight, when you get the other Dave Allen, it’s not. Right now we’ve got this Dave Allen.
The public seem swayed. I get inundated with people telling me to give him the fight, and I get other people saying ‘I’m not sure that’s a good fight.’
He’s in shape, he’s motivated, his mind’s on it – I think it will be a good fight.”
If the fight is made, it’s undoubtedly Allen’s last bite at the cherry at this level.