After Saturday’s 12-round loss to Arslanbek Makhmudov, Dave Allen admitted he “wasn’t good enough.” Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KO) outworked him and outworked him in a heavyweight bout at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England.
(Source: Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing)
A tardy start costs the white rhinoceros
Allen made things worse by sticking to the game plan of not throwing many punches in the first four rounds. He wanted to wait until Makhmudov weakened a bit before attacking. The problem was that by the time he started, he was too beat up from all the arrows Makhmudov had thrown at him.
The scores were 117–109, 116–110 and 115–111.
“I just wasn’t good enough. He’s better than Johnny Fisher and I got beat,” Dave Allen said A place of stompingreflecting on his defeat to Arslanbek Makhmudov. “I thought, ‘I’m going to get this guy in round nine,’ but I ran out of legs. I took too many good shots.”
Allen squandered his best chance of victory by rarely throwing punches through the first four rounds. Then he should have fought challenging, because there was already a plan to wear out Makhmudov. You start speedy.
Too beaten to start a comeback
By the time Allen started to take the field in the ninth over, he was so absorbed in the penalty that he couldn’t let go of his hands.
“Yeah, I would say yes,” Allen replied when asked if it was the hardest hit he had ever taken. “Sam was crushed.”
Johnny Fisher, Luis Ortiz and Tony Yoka all hit Allen pretty challenging. It looked like Makhmudov didn’t hit him that challenging because he lost too much speed. Still, Makhmudov’s shots were massive and it was clear that he was a naturally powerful fighter.
Doesn’t need to charge like some fighters. Allen made it easier for Makhmudov to land by standing in front of him and simply covering himself.
Joshua vs. Makhmudov: a real possibility?
“I think Joshua stops him in a round or two. I think Makhmudov is good, but not as good as he was. I think Makhmudov two or three years ago would have been a different proposition. He’s still better than me, but not as good as he was,” Allen said.
“The White Rhino” Allen may have been right about Makhmudov. The version of him that defeated Carlos Takam in 2022 would cause Anthony Joshua huge problems. Makhmudov was faster and more agile then. Some of the shots Takama landed would have been unsafe for Joshua. Takam took them but fell twice.
It is doubtful whether Joshua will agree to fight Makhmudov. According to him, he said that AJ will fight him in 2026. We don’t know if Joshua was joking with him. Indeed, there are better options for Joshua to fight next year, starting with Jake Paul or Tyson Fury.
Olly Campbell has been covering boxing since 2010 and writing for Boxing News 24 since 2014. He has been based in the UK and currently covers the world boxing scene, providing fight news, results and features that allow fans to hear the biggest stories in the sport.
With a background in reporting from the UK and Europe, Olly has developed a style that combines piercing analysis with accessible writing, making his work valuable to dedicated followers and casual fans alike. His reports consistently highlight champions, challengers and emerging prospects on the global stage.
Mexican boxing legend Erik Morales, who is the same age as Floyd Mayweather, presented his version of the 49-year-old’s expected rematch with Manny Pacquiao.
The two pound-for-pound icons will face off in a professional competition on September 19, headlining the Netflix event at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
However, their second meeting seemed to be in jeopardy after Mayweather stated last month that it would be an exhibition match.
Pacquiao and his team have since stated that it will be a fully sanctioned fight, but we are still waiting for an official announcement.
Their first meeting took place in 2015 and earned Mayweather a unanimous decision victory in an event that quickly became known as the most lucrative boxing event of all time.
But now the 47-year-old hopes to break Mayweather’s 50-0 record after ending his nearly four-year hiatus from professional boxing last July.
But while the Filipino drew with Mario Barrios, the then-WBC welterweight champion, many suggested he and Mayweather shouldn’t be entering the ring at this stage of their lives.
One of them is Morales, who fought Pacquiao three times, winning the first meeting but losing the next two. He told Fight Hub TV that the rematch would be won by the Hall of Famer who turned down the fight the least.
“We’re not at the age to get into fights. But hey, it’ll be intriguing. Whoever arrives the least injured and a little faster, [will win]”
Erik Morales Predicts Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2‼️‼️
“We’re not at the age to get into fights… This will be intriguing. Whoever wins must come to fight less hurt and a little faster!” – Erik Morales
“You can’t be disappointed with something that never happened,” Finkel told Sky Sports. “Eddie never contacted us and Joshua obviously had no intention of fighting Deontay Wilder. Same venerable story, just novel date.”
The comments question Eddie Hearn’s recent suggestions that Anthony Joshua could face Wilder ahead of his planned clash with Tyson Fury in slow 2026.
Joshua is instead scheduled to face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyad, ending any immediate speculation about the long-discussed clash with Wilder.
Just a few weeks ago, Eddie Hearn was here calling Wilder a warm-up fight for Joshua’s scheduled fight with Tyson Fury. This is a solemn marketing move. This keeps the fans engaged and gives the impression that AJ is willing to take on the most risky puncher in the league just to keep himself busy.
However, Shelly Finkel’s answer is fascinating. He firmly stated that there was “no reason” to be frustrated because no real approach was ever taken. If Hearn was solemn, the first step would have been to email or call Finkel. According to Wilder’s camp, such a thing never happened.
Instead of Wilder, Joshua is now officially scheduled to face the little-known Prenga. This move serves two purposes for Joshua’s camp: It is a much safer fight as Joshua rehabs from his car accident earlier this year. It also opens the door to a massive fight with Fury in slow 2026 without the risk of Wilder ruining a payday with one right hand.
This has been a pattern for years. We saw this in 2019 when uncontested talks failed, and again in 2023 when both were on the “Day of Reckoning” card but never actually paired up.
Wilder, who recently returned to the ring after a victory over Derek Chisora, also mentioned his interest in a future fight with unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Finkel’s comments suggest that Joshua’s fight remains in familiar territory, being discussed publicly but never formally pursued behind the scenes.
The star fighter, who has made an astonishing 15 defenses of his welterweight world title, supported himself in a fantastic showdown with Terence Crawford.
He had previously won seven straight 147-pound world titles, all through stoppages, but he could only cement his position as top dog by dethroning Spence.
Not only did he defeat “The Truth” and win his three world titles, but Crawford secured a surprisingly one-sided defeat over nine rounds.
After that career-defining moment, the American became the undisputed three-division champion, moving up to 168 pounds to dethrone Canelo Alvarez.
However, at welterweight, Crawford managed to produce some of his best performances, perhaps striking the perfect balance between being vigorous and impressively fit.
Another man who has had considerable success at 147 pounds is, of course, Felix Trinidad, who reigned as the IBF world champion for almost seven years.
Two of his greatest victories came against Oscar De La Hoya and Pernell Whitaker, who both went on to create Hall of Fame careers in their own right.
It is therefore natural that “Tito” sees his chances in a direct fight with Crawford, saying: Fighting Hub TV that he would give “Bud” his only professional flaw.
“With all due respect to Crawford…Tito Trinidad – I will win.”
While no fighter has been able to answer Crawford’s mystery, it is equally safe and sound to say that the former five-division world champion has never faced someone like Trinidad.
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