Dave Allen Two Pounds Lighter Than Arslanbek Makhmudov Before Heavyweight Headliner

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Mosope Ominiyi

RingMagazine.com |4 hours ago

Dave Allen Two Pounds Lighter Than Arslanbek Makhmudov Before Heavyweight Headliner

SHEFFIELD, England -- Better late than never. Dave Allen remarked at Thursday's final presser he finally felt like the man and will hope to cap one of the best weeks of his life with a seismic win over world-level heavyweight operator Arslanbek Makhmudov.

His two-fight series with Johnny Fisher went far better than anyone expected, especially after a pair of four-round decision wins against seasoned journeymen in a Sheffield roller skating venue last year.

Having wrestled with the possibility of retirement, aged 33 and 13 years into an extensive boxing career that promised plenty but so far underwhelmed, 'The White Rhino' can earn a career-best win this weekend. Makhmudov (20-2, 19 KOs) is no Fisher, mind.

It's part of why he has trained so dilligently for this camp and tipped the scales at 259.1lbs, six pounds lighter than his win over Fisher. Makhmudov, listed four inches taller, weighed in at 261.1, four pounds trimmer following his first-round finish of Ricardo Brown in June.

The Montreal-based Russian, 36, was a scary unbeaten contender patiently waiting for his chance to shine this time two years ago. Now-interim WBC world champion Agit Kabayel took him apart in the Saudi capital, before his rebuild began in his adopted Quebec home.

Italy's Guido Vianello scored an eighth-round stoppage win over him last August, after which, the criticism of his aggressive style and adjusted views on his ceiling among the world's best contenders began to intensify. DAZN will stream their must-win matchup worldwide, with bigger bouts lingering for the winner, though any outcome is conceivable.

A point to prove, for different reasons

The rematch we didn't know we needed in early January is finally upon us, after Junaid Bostan and Bilal Fawaz successfully weighed in before their second crack at vacant English 154-pound honours. Bostan was at 153.8lbs, the physically smaller Fawaz was 153.6.

The pair couldn't be separated over 10 intriguing rounds on the George Liddard-Derrick Osaze undercard and a contentious split draw meant another helping was needed. Bostan suffered two bouts of severe illness which pushed the date back, but is now healthy again and itching to prove Jan. 31 was merely a blip, rather than a sign of things to come.

Fawaz (9-1-1, 3 KOs) is 14 years his senior and surprised many with his aggressive display, believing mind games will work as they did the first time around against a young contender in Bostan (10-0-1, 8 KOs) who paid the price for underestimating the Lagos-born Londoner.

"It's getting rather boring, him with the same well-rehearsed few lines. I might walk, jog, side-step, might run, come towards him, who knows? I'll win by any means necessary," Bostan insisted during their face-off segment Thursday.

One-time world title challenger Josh Padley will seek to announce himself at a new weight division when the 29-year-old makes his junior lightweight debut against former British and Commonwealth champion Reece Bellotti, just 11 weeks after the latter's Ryan Garner defeat.

Doncaster's Padley (16-1, 5 KOs) signed a full-time Matchroom deal after emerging on short-notice in Saudi earlier this year and after a welcome homecoming against Marko Cvetanovic two months later, told The Ring of his need to make more sacrifices to maximise his short window in an ever-changing sport now he was no longer a full-time worker.

Bellotti (20-6, 15 KOs) knows the score. The Watford man, four years his senior, has rebounded from damaging defeats three times previous - most notably after a three-fight losing streak (2019-22), but accepts retirement looms large if not able to dismiss Padley on his divisional debut here. Naturally the underdog after being firmly second best against Garner, he's keen to prove Matchroom's latest feelgood story isn't on the same level.

"It's a little too early for him. He's not a bad boxer, the odds don't bother me, he'll be tough but it's just a case of working it out... I believe in myself, that I'm better than him and will prove it Saturday night," Bellotti said when asked to preview the matchup, one neither man believes will hear the final bell in a 130-pound contest scheduled for 10 rounds.

Best of the rest

Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn told one media outlet this weekend's doubleheader, first in Sheffield and then Philadelphia some three hours later, was evidence to his matchmakers they can produce fun cards like these more regularly, defying the criticism of those questioning a lack of depth and quality with domestic shows on British shores.

As Frank Smith holds down the fort at home, he'll be streaming a watchalong from Jaron Ennis' dressing room at the Xfinity Mobile Arena and as always, spoke passionately about the Allen-Makhmudov undercard just as much as an unpredictable heavyweight headliner.

Walsall flyweight Hamza Uddin (5-0, 2 KOs) gets a crack at English honours, 18 months into his professional career against two-time Southern Area junior bantamweight champion Paul Roberts (7-6-2, 2 KOs) in what looks like a showcase opportunity on paper.

"I'm the fittest and sharpest I've ever been, with my style and the way I break people down, it [10 rounds] suits me and I'll reach my full potential when getting to 12 rounds. His gameplan will decide his fate: walk forward and get put to sleep or run and I'll cut him off, chop him down, whatever it is, I'll box accordingly," the 22-year-old bullishly predicted.

Promising light heavyweight Conner Tudsbury (2-0, 1 KO) returns after a 'little' injury against well-seasoned journeyman Khalid Graidia, who has boxed Ezra Taylor, Zach Parker and new Matchroom signing Ben Whittaker among others in recent years.

"I'm really excited to be and box on here as part of Dave's undercard, camp has been great, I've been training really hard and learning new things," the 25-year-old Mancunian said, while Carl Frampton declared him an 'unbelievable' talent before his third pro appearance.

Hearn has tipped Birmingham's junior lightweight prospect Ibraheem Sulaimaan (8-0, 4 KOs) for big things and the 24-year-old's third eight-round contest figures to be his toughest against Romania's James Chereji (22-6, 10 KOs).

"Every fight is a little step-up, I'll show out again on another great night of boxing. Of course I want to build towards [titles], this is a European-level fighter and we take it one at a time. Hopefully, end of the year, we'll get a title fight but let's see. I'm looking to not get touched and go for the knockout," Sulaimaan said when previewing a career-best challenge.

The 31-year-old awaiting him on Saturday night has only been stopped once as a 12-year pro, that man none other than former IBF junior welterweight champion Liam Paro with an eighth-round stoppage in March 2020 between 18-0 and 17-0 contenders.

He's won five of 10 bouts since then, but been matched tough against the likes of Jono Carroll, Danny Quartermaine and Devrim Goekduman in recent years. By no means a straightforward task, especially against someone with the experience he possesses.

Dave Allen-managed Wigan lightweight Joe Howarth (13-1, 4 KOs) returns in six-round action against veteran Kane Baker, while another within the Allen stable features when welterweight Joe Hayden (19-0, 2 KOs) faces Angelo Dragone over the same distance.

Full weights:

Heavyweight, 12 rounds: David Allen (259.1) vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov (261.1)
Junior lightweight, 10 rounds: Josh Padley (129.5) vs. Reece Bellotti (129.9)
English junior middleweight title, 10 rounds: Junaid Bostan (153.8) vs. Bilal Fawaz (153.6)
English flyweight title, 10 rounds: Hamza Uddin (111.6) vs. Paul Roberts (111.2)
Junior lightweight, 8 rounds: Ibraheem Sulaimaan (133.2) vs. James Chereji (131.8)
Light heavyweight, 6 rounds: Conner Tudsbury (180.7) vs. Khalid Graidia (177.2)
Junior welterweight, 6 rounds: Joe Howarth (139.6) vs. Karl Sampson (141.2)
Welterweight, 6 rounds: Joe Hayden (146.6) vs. Angelo Dragone (146.7)

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