SHEFFIELD, England — Arslanbek Makhmudov began on the front foot, weathered some dangerous spots and emerged a wide 12-round decision winner against Dave Allen on Saturday, opening up world-level opportunities again as he called out Anthony Joshua post-fight.

Bob Williams' 115-111 scorecard was the closest of the three judges, with Jean-Robert Laine (116-110) and Pavel Kardyni (117-109) seeing it wider as Makhmudov boxed well despite having two points deducted by referee Steve Gray for excessive holding in Rounds 7 and 12.

Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs) revealed his excitement at travelling to British shores, having travelled the world —

more than 20 countries — without setting foot in the UK. It felt fitting then, his introduction coming in a 9,000-strong cauldron, baying for blood and hoping this 6-foot-6 giant would crumble as he has twice in consecutive years against better opposition.

Allen (24-8-2, 19 KOs) has divided opinion over the years but here he could do no wrong. Headlining at this stage of his career, 20 miles from his Doncaster home, was a remarkable feat.

That he could earn even bigger riches with a victory would've been an added bonus given what he's dealt with in recent years. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.

Allen didn't stray from the gameplan early against a fearsome opponent who stalked as he probed, winging wild right hands and making the younger man weary. The problem? It just didn't relent.

Uppercuts and a meaty right hand landed flush on Allen's already red face two minutes in, as "The Lion" set about digging to head and body, unfazed by the outpouring of support for a man who had wrestled with potentially retiring on more than one occasion in recent years.

Post-fight, Allen insisted that he's not done despite falling short at what was described as fringe world level. British title level, perhaps even a move down to in weight, how could this possibly be the final appearance after such a rapturous reception?

Some 30 hours after Ricky Hatton's funeral, the Utilita Arena crowd modified Hatton's chant and sang "there's only one Dave Allen" in unison, the noise reverberating around a Yorkshire venue during a main event that no one would've foreseen even 12 months ago.

Yet there was no time for niceties, sentiment or symbolism as Makhmudov's right hands flew ominously and Allen wearily walked forward, absorbing more punishment before digging downstairs with a deliberately low body shot halfway through Round 2. Referee Steve Gray paused the action, everyone catching a collective breath. Not for long, though.

Makhmudov returned after that break throwing big bombs, probing Allen's high defensive guard as growing concerns and whispers of discontent could be heard. Allen wasn't having much success, nor could he deter his opponent from outworking him, either.

Gray was unsighted and didn't see Allen straying low with another shot early in the third. Makhmudov's complaints were waved away and Allen briefly took advantage with some work up close, though the Russian-born Canadian couldn't miss his right hand.

Makhmudov countered the shorter Allen, who needed to keep their exchanges at close-range if he was to truly tire the 36-year-old.

Easier said than done.

Allen teed off to the lower body as they clinched. Makhmudov was visibly comfortable, controlling proceedings with Allen at the end of his punches but less so whenever the 33-year-old pressed forward awkwardly toward his chest.

Allen had some success dirty boxing and walked toward the target, making their exchanges increasingly scrappy and trying to negate Makhmudov's best attributes that way.

Friend and former gym mate Jack Catterall stated the obvious during a stateside watchalong: Allen needed to work more. Despite being the fresher of the two, he was conceivably down 4-0 heading into the fifth, which proved his best round to that point.

Makhmudov was again warned for excessively tying up, but Allen given licence to dirty box, which is where the bulk of his success came as the rhythm on his mid-range hooks still hadn't arrived. Right on cue, he landed flush with two right uppercuts that bothered the bigger man as the partisan crowd were allowed to believe in their hero again.

Allen wasn't throwing enough or making the most of a reserved sixth by the visitor though, who found comfort near his corner and seemed content to indulge him at close-range.

Too close to work effectively and not landing enough of his own, Allen's infrequent attacks were frustrating as he didn't build on a promising stanza. Instead. the cumulative damage was picking up, besides one stray punch in response that connected in the final moments.

The loudest cheer of round seven came late on and didn't involve a punch being thrown. Instead, it was Gray signaling the vicious-punching visitor had finally been fouling enough and deducted a point. It would've been a 9-9 round as he was again leading the charge, but you have to celebrate the small wins in a tense matchup like this with what was at stake.

Makhmudov's confidence grew as time ticked by, Allen still plodding forward but a hittable target that he kept chipping away at. Round nine saw a potential flashpoint as Makhmudov's gumshield fell loose, a bizarre sequence which took too long to sort and which almost kicked Allen into gear as he finally landed clean with the right hand.

"Let your hands go!" Hearn barked at his screen. And soon enough, he was up on his feet as the hometown hero finally had some tangible success to build upon. Into the 10th, referee Gray pulled them apart for the umpteenth time, the visitor scoring with subtle shots in the pocket as Allen tried recreating his earlier joy, biding his time and waiting to pounce.

He teed off briefly with Makhmudov against the ropes before Gray broke them up again, stifling the work. The jab was Arslanbek's equaliser early in Round 11, Allen intermittently firing back with uppercuts and hooks but not enough to turn the tide in a stanza he needed.

They entered the final frame with Allen undeniably down on the scorecards, but that didn't deter him. Makhmudov's uppercuts worked well early as they exchanged. "Come on, be a man" was the cry from the visitor's corner as Allen tagged him with three shots in the clinch but was being walked back by more right hands before returning the favour.

Into the last minute, Gray deducted another Makhmudov point for excessive holding, and Allen charged forward, winging wild haymakers to finish strong.

It wasn't enough, and he graciously accepted so during an emotional post-fight interview at the end of a night where he never stopped trying. You don't have to be the best or most tactically astute but as long as you give your all, like Allen did, the fans will never forget nights like these. Makhmudov can dream of bigger bouts, but it's not all doom and gloom for Allen.

Bilal Fawaz MD10 (96-95, 95-95, 96-94) Junaid Bostan, wins English junior middleweight title

Josh Padley UD10 (99-92, 97-93, 97-93) Reece Bellotti, wins WBA International junior lightweight title

Hamza Uddin TKO5 (2:17) Paul Roberts, wins English flyweight title

Junior lightweight: Ibraheem Sulaimaan PTS8 (80-72) James Chereji

Light heavyweight: Conner Tudsbury TKO4 (0:58) Khalid Graidia

Junior welterweight: Joe Howarth PTS6 (60-53) Karl Sampson

Welterweight: Joe Hayden PTS6 (60-54) Angelo Dragone