“I don’t want to live in regret,” says Dave Allen. “I want to know how good I am.”
Twelve years after his professional debut in December 2012, the 32-year-old heavyweight takes on one of the toughest challenges of his career to date as highly-rated British prospect Johnny Fisher.
After a devastating loss to Olympic bronze medalist Frazer Clarke in September 2023, it was difficult to predict what the future held for Allen.
However, the victory over Fisher, who won all 12 fights, on December 21 in Saudi Arabia – on the wave of Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Tyson Fury – may revive the Yorkshireman’s career.
And not for the first time.
Allen suffered losses to top contenders such as Dillian Whyte and Luis Ortiz, but nervous Lucas Browne, who briefly held the WBA Regular title before failing a drug test.
“I didn’t make it to the highest level, which I don’t mind,” he told BBC Sport. “I defeated the former champion [in Browne] but his best days were already behind him, so I never knew how good I was.
“I think because of Fisher, the best version of me can beat this guy because he’s still a kid.”
With 31 fights under his belt, including 23 wins and six tough losses, Allen revealed what motivated him to continue after starting his career with a six-round victory over Rolandas Cesna.
“It’s about not having any regrets,” he added. “People talk about money and all that, but my life is fine, I’m healthy, I don’t have to box, I can go and do other things.
“My old man is 66 years old, he was a boxer and I know he is filled with grief.
“I didn’t want to do it. I’d rather go, and if I get beat, I know I wasn’t good enough.”
