Dave Allen insists he is fully focused on his clash with Arslanbek Makhmudov, despite talk of a future fight with Deontay Wilder.
Allen’s promoter, Eddie Hearn says he has already held talks with Wilder’s team over a potential bout, ahead of the Sheffield man’s meeting with Makhmudov on October 11.
However, the ‘White Rhino’ has vowed that he won’t be distracted by the lure of a possible money-spinning showdown with the former heavyweight world champion and insists he is treating his Russian rival as a world title fight.
“I hear talks of Wilder, but I’m not really interested,” the 33-year-old told talkSPORT.
“I’ve got to beat Makhmudov.
“This is my world title fight really.
“If I beat Makhmudov, it’s a career-best win.
“It’ll set me up for a fight that’ll set me up for the rest of my life.
“The Makhmudov fight is everything to me.
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“If I beat him, people will have to respect me, they’ll have to say I’m a good fighter.
“He’s a good fighter. He’s probably top 25, top 30 in the world.
“I’ve been at this level and been beat every single time.”
The Doncaster man catapulted himself back into the heavyweight picture, after knocking out Johnny Fisher in the fifth round of their rematch in May having suffered a controversial loss to the Essex man five months earlier.
Makhmudov has won 19 of his 20 wins inside the distance and has been beaten just twice to now-WBC interim champion, Agit Kabayel and Guido Vianello.
Allen insists he has no concerns over the 36-year-old’s fearsome punching power and believes he has the tools to overcome him at the Utilita Arena.
“It’s alright looking at other people that have beat him, but I’m not Kabayel or Vianello, I’m Dave Allen,” he added.
“We have a gameplan. We could try box him. We can come and try fight him.
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“I know when the bell goes I know what I’m going to do.
“I’m going to get my hands up. I’m going to try and walk him back. I’m going to take him a few rounds and I’m not going anywhere.
“I’m not really bothered how hard he hits.
“Power, strength, all those other attributes that other people against me have faced.
“They’re not really worrying me, because that’s fine I can handle that.
“It’s usually speed that worries me and skill, so we’ll see.
“I think I’ve got the beating of him to be honest, but it’s not going to be easy.”
