Dave Allen attempts to continue his resurgence this Saturday night at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield and he takes on a dangerous assignment over a scheduled 12 rounds at heavyweight against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom promote Allen vs Makhmudov and DAZN televise the bill live worldwide.
Allen (24-7-2, 19 KOs) has had a chequered career, but has always given it all, particularly in losing efforts against some solid heavyweight contenders.
After retiring after six rounds against Frazer Clarke in 2023, Allen was seen three times in 2024, and those included a couple of points wins over four rounds against journeymen opposition.
The 33-year-old was seen as relative fodder for Johnny Fisher in Riyadh last December in their meeting over 10 rounds, but Allen served it up to ‘The Romford Bull’, dropping Fisher in the fifth before being on the wrong end of a controversial split decision.
The Doncaster man put that right in May in some style, as he wore Fisher down for a fifth-round win.
Makhmudov (20-2, 19 KOs) is a solid step up for ‘The White Rhino’, but the Russian has also seen recent setbacks, and is looking to get back up the rankings.
The 36-year-old banked solid wins in 2022 against Mariusz Wach and Carlos Takam, but suffered a first defeat in December 2023, and ran out of gas quickly, dropped three times in a fourth-round defeat to Agit Kabayel in Riyadh.
‘The Lion’ was then halted in eight by Guido Vianello in his adopted Canada last August, although he is coming off a win, a first-round blowout of Ricardo Brown in June.
Prediction: I feel Makhmudov’s power may be too much here, and much could rest on Allen’s ability to make it through the first four rounds. My pick is for the visitor to score a stoppage win.
Padley battles Bellotti
The undercard sees an intriguing 10-rounder at super featherweight, where Josh Padley (16-1, 5 KOs) takes on former British and Commonwealth champion, Reece Bellotti.
After upsetting Mark Chamberlain last September, Padley’s stock rose sharply in defeat for the WBC lightweight title in February, stopped in nine by Shakur Stevenson.
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The 29-year-old halted Marko Cvetanovic in five in his last contest in April. He moves down in weight here to face Bellotti (20-6, 15 KOs), who is coming off a final round reverse against Ryan Garner in July.
Prediction: Padley has impressed of late, and I can see him wearing Bellotti down late on.
Bostan and Fawaz rematch
There’s also a rematch on the bill for the vacant English super welterweight title, as Junaid Bostan (10-0-1, 8 KOs) meets Bilal Fawaz (9-1-1, 3 KOs).
The pair fought to a split decision draw in their original clash in January.
Prediction: Bostan can win the rematch on the scorecards.
Remaining Undercard
The final 10-rounder is at flyweight, where Hamza Uddin (5-0, 2 KOs) can outscore Paul Roberts (7-6-2, 2 KOs), who has never previously been stopped.
The sole eight-rounder is at super featherweight, and Ibraheem Sulaimaan (8-0, 4 KOs) should be a points winner against James Chereji (22-6, 10 KOs).
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In six-round action, welterweight hope Joe Hayden (19-0, 2 KOs) can take care of Angelo Dragone (10-8, 1 KO) on points, and Joe Howarth (13-1, 4 KOs) can do the same against Kane Baker (19-13-2, 1 KO) at lightweight.
Conner Tudsbury (2-0, 1 KO) can stop Khalid Graidia (13-15-5, 4 KOs) in their light heavyweight contest.
