British heavyweight David Allen’s fairytale headline present led to a unanimous factors defeat to Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov at a raucous Sheffield Area.
Judges scored the struggle 115-111, 117-109 and 116-10 in favour of Makhmudov.
The 33-year-old Allen had beforehand fought on the venue 5 occasions, however this was his first time as a headliner and a 9,000-strong crowd got here out to help their South Yorkshire hero, who stop boxing 5 years in the past and deliberate a quiet life.
He returned to the game with titles on his thoughts, and for giant nights like this.
“I’ve by no means, ever seen something prefer it,” Allen mentioned after the struggle. “I almost cried. I needed to actually choke all of it again a bit on the ramp. I am not completed.”
The imposing Makhmudov entered the struggle with 19 knockouts from his 20 wins, and with simply two defeats it made him the hardest opponent Allen has confronted.
As chants of “There’s just one Dave Allen” rang across the venue, the house fighter needed to chunk down on his gumshield early on and take thudding blows from Makhmudov.
With the names of his kids, Betty and George, etched on his shorts, Allen began to stalk Makhmudov, with a large physique shot adopted by a proper uppercut touchdown within the fifth spherical.
Allen sparked to life within the ninth spherical and linked with an overhand proper, however Makhmudov confirmed toughness and sturdiness.
Within the twelfth spherical, Makhmudov had a second factors deduction – each have been for holding. This, together with the roar of the gang, inspired Allen to push on and land one other monstrous proper hook, however it was not sufficient.
The ‘White Rhino’ has been right here earlier than – struggling some main setbacks throughout his 13 years as knowledgeable.
Allen’s profession gave the impression to be in tatters quite a few occasions, however he has emerged from retirement and rebuilt over the previous 4 years and can look to take action once more.
A stoppage loss to David Worth in 2019 ended with Allen being stretchered out of the ring and he gave up the game the next yr.
Allen’s consideration turned to coaching younger boxers Joe Hayden and Joe Howarth – each of whom received on Saturday’s Sheffield undercard – earlier than confirming a return to the game he cherished at a “low degree”.
After two wins by way of small corridor reveals, a loss to Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke was solely a minor setback as Allen was fast to simply accept a struggle with undefeated heavyweight Johnny Fisher, with out understanding this is able to catapult his profession.
Allen was on the incorrect finish of a contentious loss in Saudi Arabia earlier than knocking out Fisher in a rematch at a sold-out Copper Field Area in Might 2025.
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