Frazer Clarke forced a corner retirement from Dave Allen in their ten-round heavyweight contest after having two points deducted for straying below the belt.
Allen entered the ring after a number of low level four and six rounders following his official retirement back in 2020. Now back and seemingly taking the sport seriously, he was looking to upset the odds and guarantee at least one more big night under the lights à la his career highlight body shot stoppage of Lucas Browne.
Clarke was most recently out against Marius Wach at London’s York Hall, going the ten-round distance with the veteran and bagging some experience along the way. In his eighth fight, he was favoured by the bookies to get his sixth stoppage win.
The ten-round heavyweight bout kicked off with both feinting until Clarke made it through with his jab and Allen – with the Manchester crowd well and truly behind him – landed a couple of his own. Overall, a very slow start from ‘The White Rhino.’
Clarke started round two by turning up the gas slightly, throwing his power shots to head and body. Allen came back with a jab and an overhand right, but the Olympic Bronze Medalist took back control quickly. Allen landed a right coming out of the clinch, and you would think he needed tactics like that to make any progress.
The former sparring partners came out for round three got up close quickly. Allen missed with a big overhand, and took an uppercut for his troubles. The overhand right landed on the second attempt. Clarke continued his work to the body, but went low and received a warning. Clarke landed two big hooks before the bell.
Allen made it rough in close. When Clarke got back to work, Allen complained of another low shot but the action continued this time, and he took a combination on the chin. The Doncaster man landed a big right in return, and another, but his shots didn’t have the sting Clarke’s did.
At the halfway stage, Clarke was comfortably up, the uppercut working for him well. Allen was warned for pushing Clarke’s head down, intent on making it as messy as possible. Three more uppercuts in the final 30 seconds before another low blow. Clarke swarmed him when the action resumed, and Allen claimed low again.
Clarke had a point off from referee Mark Lyson for going low to begin the sixth. Another straightaway and a bit of worry for Clarke. An interesting turn of events given the recent drama between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois. Allen landed three hooks in the clinch. Clarke moved his work up the the head, smartly, and had good success. A third low blow in the round, but Clarke kept his points off tally at two. Clarke landed a big straight right to end the round and put Allen in danger – the first sign of real trouble.
Allen’s corner called it off as he made the way back to the corner. With a little time, it looked like a jaw injury and was later confirmed as a perforated ear drum. Clarke, round six win, and a very well-timed call from trainer Jamie Moore. The fighters kept the dialogue going as Clarke was booed by some in the arena.
Clarke questioned the calls in the aftermath, but apologised if he did stray low. He moves forward 8-0, ruling out a rematch. Not a devastating end for Allen, who likely won’t return to retirement.