Dave Allen has opened the door to a move down in weight after admitting Arslanbek Makhmudov was simply too big and too good for him on Saturday night in Sheffield.

Allen (24-8-2, 19 KOs) boxed valiantly against the 6ft 6in Russian and made it through all 12 rounds of what turned out to be a brutal fight at Sheffield Arena. However, despite Makhmudov’s two point deductions for excessive holding, the visitor still ran out a clear winner on all three cards.

As is often the case, 6ft 4in Allen was giving up height and reach advantages to his opponent and has now suggested he might be better served campaigning at a lower weight, namely the 224-pound 'bridgerweight' division, which The Ring doesn't recognise as an official weight class. As it stands, only the WBC and WBA recognise it with Kevin Lerena (WBC) and Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (WBA) the two current champions.

"Yes 16st (224lbs) is a possibility," Allen said on Instagram. "Yes it would be hard work and yes it would require me making weight.

"But just like for all fighters at all weights who make weight, it would be difficult and it would be a first for me. It would be hard but it’s definitely on the table for me."

Allen weighed 259 pounds for his clash with Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs), while the lightest he has been during his career - exclusively at heavyweight - was the 232 pounds he weighed on his December 2012 debut and then again for his sixth bout 18 months later.

That means any move down would require a weight loss of 35 pounds.

Regardless of which weight he chooses to fight at next, Allen revealed he has already made contact with his promoter Eddie Hearn about a potential fight before the end of the year despite momentarily considering retirement.

He added: "After the fight I thought 'oh that might do me,' but I messaged Eddie 10 minutes ago saying 'let's get something in before the end of the year.'

"Mad isn't it? It's a hard game to leave alone. I'm in agony now, not the best at boxing but I enjoy it. I like to compete, I love it and would do it every day if I could."