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Mind games gone wrong? Preview of the Dave Allen vs. Makhmudov fight

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Image: Mind Games Gone Wrong? Dave Allen’s Plan to Irritate Makhmudov Might Be Backfiring Before the First Bell

Dave Allen says he wants to wear out Arslanbek Makhmudov with mind games ahead of their 12-round fight this Saturday, October 11 at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. Their fight will be shown live on DAZN this Saturday. The event starts at 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 PM PT.

The smile war begins

Allen’s strategy is to deliberately irritate the huge 6-foot-1/2-inch Russian Makhmudov (20-2, 19 KOs) by smiling. He admits it doesn’t seem to work. Instead of seeming enraged, Makhmudov seems elated with how genial Allen is, as seen in his smiles.

Another strategy for Allen (24-7-2, 19 KO) is to avoid Makhmudov’s firepower in the first quarter of the fight, then launch an attack in rounds four and five. Makhmudov may still be too powerful at this point in the fight for Allen to go on the attack.

In Arslanbek’s recent eighth-round knockout loss to Guido Vianello on August 17, 2024, he continued to throw with great power in rounds five through seven. Makhmudov’s left eye was swollen and injured and he could barely see out of it. Still, he threw huge haymakers with the intention of knocking him out. If it weren’t for Guido’s technical skills, he would have been cut.

Allen will have to be careful not to get hit as Makhmudov’s shots have a lot of power and weight behind them. The uppercuts and clubbing right hands he throws will cause damage if or if they land on Allen. He hasn’t fought a heavyweight at Makhmudov’s level for many years, since his fight with Tony Yoka in 2018.

“I’m trying to irritate him. I’m not sure how well it works. I wanted him to try to hit me in the head. I was trying to irritate him. The sooner he gets tired, the better,” Dave Allen said to talkSport Boxing about wanting to destroy Arslanbek Makhmudov outside and inside the ring.

Makhmudov doesn’t blink

Allen doesn’t seem to understand Makhmudov well. He seems completely indifferent to the mind games Allen is trying to play. Makhmudov has too much experience at the professional and amateur levels in Russia. Trying to irritate him probably won’t work. Again, Allen’s smile makes him seem genial. Makhmudov even said in an interview that he thought Allen was a “nice” person.

“I can’t wait to start rounds four and five. The more I can get the smile off my face, the quicker I can get him going. When he throws punches, I’ll duck and dive. I’ll get to work when he starts blowing.”

Last update: 10/10/2025

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Tim Bradley explains why Lamont Roach can beat William Zepeda

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Image: Tim Bradley Explains Why Lamont Roach Can Beat William Zepeda

Bradley says Roach’s experience against pressure players and southpaws will give him an advantage on August 1

Tim Bradley thinks Lamont Roach Jr. he is the player best placed to make William Zepeda lose. In a speech on his YouTube channel, Bradley selected Roach as the winner of the vacant WBC lightweight title on August 1 and cited the fight’s stylistic advantages as a key factor.


“I’m picking Roach to win this fight,” Bradley said on his channel. “I think it’s a perfect match in style. I think Roach fights southpaws better than orthodox fighters.”

Roach comes into the fight coming off a draw with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and a contentious draw with Gervonta Davis, as well as two physically demanding fights against high-pressure fighters that Bradley says has prepared him for Zepeda’s relentless approach.

“I think he fought one of the best southpaws in the world in Tank Davis. And he did damn well against him,” Bradley said. “He wasn’t scared by the force of the impact.”

Bradley believes Roach has the tools needed to neutralize Zepeda’s pressure.

“When guys who like to get forward and be aggressive, nine times out of 10 they don’t like being tackled,” Bradley said. “Roach has the ability to do it. He has the knowledge and the IQ to be able to do it. And if he does it, he will win this fight.”

Bradley also cautioned that Roach cannot afford to leave matters in the judges’ hands, arguing that he needs to create more separation than in recent draws with Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis.

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Last update: 2026/06/13 at 14:20

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Roy Jones Jr Says He’ll Return to Fighting One Fighter If He Gets an Eight-Figure Salary: ‘It’ll Make Me Prepare’

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Roy Jones Jr says he’ll return to fight one man if he gets paid eight figures: “It would make me prepare”

Roy Jones Jr has announced his price and is demanding an eight-figure purse if he is to make it through the ropes.

At his peak, the American became one of the best players to ever grace the sport, and his breathtaking speed and overall physical prowess made him seem almost unbeatable.

After winning world titles at middleweight, super middleweight and airy heavyweight, Jones even moved up to heavyweight and dethroned John Ruiz to win the WBA belt in 2003.

The pound-for-pound legend retired in 2018, when many thought his best days were behind him, only to take it to the next level exhibition match with Mike Tyson in 2020

Although it was a non-contest, many believed that Tyson outplayed Jones, who then returned professionally against Anthony Pettis and lost an eight-round decision to the former UFC champion in 2023.

Since then, the 57-year-old has remained on the safer side of the competition, but is now eyeing another comeback, this time against Misfits boxer Tommy Fury.

Having delved into the power side of the sport following previous professional victories over Jake Paul and KSI, Fury is now preparing to face former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall.

I’m talking to Betting showroomJones said he would only be willing to challenge the 27-year-old if he was handsomely rewarded for his troubles.

“Is me vs. Tommy Fury dead? Nothing is dead forever. Roy Jones is still alive. Tommy Fury is still alive. Who knows? For the right money, it would make me go to the gym to get ready.”

“If they give me $10 million of course. Ten and more, yes. If they don’t give me $10 million and more, then no, I’m not wasting my time.”

Fury’s six-round exhibition match with Hall will take place later today at the Manchester Arena, although the result will not affect his professional record of 11-0 (4 KO).

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Hamzah Sheeraz should fight Osleys Iglesias first

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Image: A High Cost: The Humiliation That Will Define Canelo's Next Two Fights

“There are a confined number of fights and he can’t fight every fighter. So why don’t you consider that [Iglesias and Sheeraz] think about who wants to be at the front of the line,” Kellerman said on InsideRingShow.

Kellerman rejected the idea that Canelo was firing any of the fighters.

“He’s not saying he’s ignoring Sheeraz and Iglesias. In fact, he just gave them a path. He said, ‘I’m fighting Mbilli.’ You are fighting each other. This is not a duck. This is about business,” Kellerman said.

Sheeraz has already made it clear that he has no interest in following the route proposed by Canelo. Responding to a suggestion from an earlier interview, the British fighter said he respected Alvarez but would not allow another boxer to dictate his career decisions.

A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could answer many of the remaining questions about both men.

Canelo is preparing to fight Mbilli, a fighter widely viewed as one of the most threatening fighters in the division due to his constant pressure and furious attacks. Meanwhile, Sheeraz has had two fights since moving up to 168 pounds, a fight against Edgar Berlanga, who he stopped in July 2025 after Canelo had already beaten him a year earlier, and 39-year-old Al Begic for the vacant WBO title.

A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could eliminate many of the questions that still haunt both men. Sheeraz would have the opportunity to silence critics who believe his super middleweight resume is slim, while Iglesias could reaffirm a growing reputation that has led some fans to consider him the division’s boogeyman.

The winner would pose a bigger and more marketable challenge. Instead of facing Sheeraz immediately after his victory over Begic, Alvarez could face an opponent who had a decisive victory over another world champion, adding more significance to what could be one of the final marquee fights of his career.

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