SHEFFIELD, England -- Arslanbek Makhmudov's ringwalk was met with a hearty hum of boos as expected and while this fearsome road warrior didn't exactly win them over at the final bell, left with renewed optimism about what awaits in the next phase of his career.

Having endured some gruelling spells, absorbing Dave Allen's spirited best and boxing with brute force off the back foot for sustained periods - as well as having two points deducted in the second-half of a tense clash - the 36-year-old couldn't help but acknowledge a 9,000-strong Utilita Arena crowd who had just seen their hometown hero soundly beaten.

"Sorry guys, he's your favourite boxer I know but [I said] you're gonna love me... I respect this guy, brave and a crazy chin, never saw a lion's heart like this guy. Sorry bro, it wasn't time to be nice [before the fight]," he told Allen during his post-fight interview ringside.

"He's a very good man, scariest-looking man I've ever seen but a sweetheart," Allen said in response as they shared a warm embrace before venturing towards very different pathways for what awaits next. Allen insisted he wasn't retiring, how could he after a night like this, while Makhmudov's name will rise again after winning their WBA Inter-Continental title fight.

Matchroom CEO Frank Smith later told The Ring they'll have a close eye on the Frazer Clarke-Jeamie Tshikeva fight come October 25, vying for vacant British heavyweight honours. Allen (24-8-2, 19 KOs) could very well fight the winner.

The promotion have an option on Makhmudov's next bout and will reconvene with Eye of The Tiger to decide his next steps once fully recovered and ready to return after sharing his suspicion that Allen's toughness inadvertently caused him a suspected broken right hand.

Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs) wants world-level names and lucrative levels of opposition - like a 'dream' fight against two-time unified world champion Anthony Joshua.

Five hours later in Philadelphia though, one of his former opponents produced a highlight reel finish before reading from the same hymn sheet by calling out Joshua for a clash at the Roman Colosseum in Guido Vianello. The Italian weathered an early storm to flatten unbeaten contender Alexis Barriere four rounds into their heavyweight slugfest.

Vianello left Makhmudov battered and bruised en route to an eighth-round stoppage last August in Quebec City, Canada, so perhaps a more incremental step up is a more sensible play for him after this represented his first completed 12-round contest some eight years and 23 bouts into his professional career. Rush and get the matchmaking wrong, he'll rue it.

Once the adrenaline began to wear off half-an-hour later, the 36-year-old admitted his surprise at just how much damage Allen was able to withstand as their bruising rounds persisted. Even with his high guard intact, 'The White Rhino' was eating big shots aplenty.

During the post-fight presser, the Russian-born Canadian said confidence in his punching power stems from years of scaring away would-be foes when he was street-fighting as a child - Allen proving a rare exception after absorbing attacks and walking forward.

"He impressed me a lot because no-one would want to fight me, you see them change their mind but it doesn't work with this guy. I was surprised, for 12 rounds, you saw it. Marc [Ramsay] told me he's got balls but not technique, just box and you'll stop him in six rounds.

"I thought okay, I'll stop him in the first round but I couldn't even do it over 12, that's why I'm really impressed. I think he's got an iron chin, it's not normal."

When asked to assess his display, Ramsay told The Ring: "We expected this kind of fight, I think it was a good performance - of course some stuff we can take to the gym, nobody's perfect - we've got material to work on and evolve as a fighter, be better for next time.

"It was his first time fighting 12 rounds, managing time and energy was a little bit new for him, you can do it in sparring day-after-day but when it comes to the fight with the pressure, you have to live that experience. Now he has, we can try to be a better boxer."

On the topic of a future Joshua fight, Makhmudov hinted as he had in the build-up they verbally agreed to one, provided he was successful here first.

"Honestly, I just want Anthony Joshua. We made a deal already, like I said, it's my dream fight. I need to rest, see my family but even before the fight, I was very focused - this is the fight of your life but the next step is Joshua, that's it."

He didn't want to name them, but again drew parallels to Joshua in that they're both the same age, have shared opponents and rebounded from adversity in the past.

Joshua was stopped in the final round of his 2011 European Championships quarter-final by Romania's Mihai Nistor. Three years later, still in the unpaid code, Makhmudov knocked him out in the final frame of their five-round World Series of Boxing bout.

Azerbaijan's Mahammadrasul Majidov narrowly pipped Joshua 22-21 to win the 2011 AIBA World Championships but three months earlier, Makhmudov outpointed him. Not exactly riveting intel given how their careers have gone nearly 15 years later, though he means well.

Smith again poured cold water on that, insisting they were on different paths, as speculation grows Joshua may end a 15-month layoff in Accra, Ghana the week before Christmas.

Questions over Joshua's durability and fading qualities are warranted but his star power still remains. That Makhmudov has even put himself in the conversation for marquee matchups is testament to behind-the-scenes work and introspection he's shown in defeat.

"If I lost, I don't say coach it was your mistake, it was mine myself. I train twice a day and think that's enough but this year was training three times a day. I started working at 6am, working on my boxing skills for 10 rounds, then conditioning, then boxing training everyday.

"Can you imagine that? If you do everything and don't win, you can't say you lost because of laziness, I cannot hate myself. Win or lose, I don't care, I can relax knowing that I did everything and that's my philosophy," he added.