SHEFFIELD, England — Dave Allen is hoping to finally prove himself a “top-class heavyweight” when he fights Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday night.

England’s Allen (24-7-2, 19 KOs) and Russia’s Makhmudov (20-2, 19 KOs) will fight over 12 rounds at Sheffield Arena. The winner will move closer to a big fight. Defeat will all but end the loser’s aspirations of ever making an impact at world level.

DAZN will broadcast the event globally.

Much has been made about where a victory could take the mercurial Allen, but the 33-year-old from Doncaster isn’t allowing himself to think too much about potential fights with Deontay Wilder or Kubrat Pulev.

Beating his British rival, Johnny Fisher, has re-energised his career. He is enjoying being the centre of attention.

“People keep saying, ‘What’s next?’ But this is my world title fight. This is the biggest of my career,” Allen said at Thursday’s final press conference. “I don't fight for money. The money is great, but I don’t see it anyway. My missus spends it, so it don’t make no difference to me.

“I want the respect now. I want for people to say I’m a top-class heavyweight. I’ll probably never be heavyweight champ, but if I can beat this man, people will say, 'You’re a top, top heavyweight,’ and that’s all I want. This is it for me and when I'm in the mood I’m a very, very hard man to shift.”

It has been widely reported that Allen handpicked the heavy-handed Makhmudov from a list of five potential opponents. His reasoning was that the prospect of facing such a dangerous opponent would motivate him.

Fear may have fueled Allen’s preparation, but with the fight just a day away he is concentrating on the aspects of the matchup that suit him.

“I thought we’d go for the biggest, scariest guy with the best style,” Allen said. “He’s a ferocious puncher. I don't worry about strength or power. Try and hit me properly and you’re gonna struggle. He only knows how to fight. I’m not saying he can't box, but he won’t. He'll come and have a go the same way Fisher tried to. He’s gonna struggle to hit me and probably get a bit frustrated.

“He’s gonna come to me and have a go and I’ve always said that no one will beat me if they do that. I guess we’ll find out on Saturday. He’s a very good fighter and I’ve never beat anyone as good as him. But everything he does, I think he’s made for me.”

Whilst he is speaking with uncharacteristic confidence, Allen still isn’t expecting an easy night’s work.

“I think I win on points,” Allen said. “I think I have to come through some sticky patches early, but again, when I’m in the mood, I’m near on impossible to shift and I’m well in the mood.

“It’s gonna be carnage for a few rounds. He’s gonna come and have a go, but when round four starts and you see that big fat fella smiling at you, then we’ll go to work. The fight will start in Round Four.”

If Saturday night offers Allen an unlikely opportunity to gatecrash world level, it is a fight Makhmudov must win if he is to have any chance of reaching the heights many once expected him to.

The 36-year-old appeared to be a force of nature as he breezed through the first 18 fights of his career but his form has been patchy over the past 20 months.

His fourth-round stoppage loss to German Agit Kabayel in December 2023 is nothing to be ashamed of. The way Guido Vianello was able to outbox him en route to a seventh-round stoppage in August 2024 was eye-opening, though.

Makhmudov never got started and his eye was slammed shut by the time the ringside doctor halted the action.

Makhmudov bounced back with a quick blowout of the overmatched Ricardo Brown but the importance of this weekend hasn’t passed him by.

“It’s my first time in the UK. I’m very excited,” he said. “It’s a big opportunity for me, first of all, to open the door for big names. The second thing is that it's a fight for my life. I come to win and do everything for that.”

Makhmudov admitted he had no idea who Allen was when the fight was first proposed, though he has spent some time studying him since. For him, the fight is purely business.

“Nice guy, family guy, similar to me,” Makhmudov said. “Nothing personal, but Saturday night is just boxing. Whoever boxes better will win. This is sport first of all. We come to make money and bring food to the table for our family. That’s it. A very interesting style, a good boxer. It’s two different styles. We’ll see who is better.”