David Allen v Arslanbek Makhmudov: Defeat in Sheffield for Doncaster boxer
British heavyweight David Allen’s epic headline show ended with a unanimous points defeat to Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov in a raucous Sheffield Arena.
The referees evaluated the fight in favor of Makhmudov with scores of 115-111, 117-109 and 116-10.
Allen, 33, has fought five times at the venue before but this was his first time in a leading role and a crowd of 9,000 turned out to support the South Yorkshire heroes, who five years ago quit boxing and planned a quiet life.
He turned to sports with championships and important nights like this in mind.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Allen said after the fight. “I almost cried. I really had to bottle it all up a little bit on the ramp. I didn’t finish it.”
The imposing Makhmudov entered the fight with 19 of his 20 wins by knockout and only two defeats, making him the toughest opponent Allen has ever faced.
While chants of “There is only one Dave Allen” echoed in the hall, the home fighter had to bite his mouthguard early and deliver powerful blows to Makhmudov.
With the names of his children, Betty and George, embroidered on his shorts, Allen began stalking Makhmudov with a massive body shot followed by a right uppercut in the fifth round.
Allen came alive in the ninth and connected with a right hand, but Makhmudov showed stamina and endurance.
In the 12th round, Makhmudov suffered a second points deduction; Both were for retention purposes. This, along with the roar of the crowd, encouraged Allen to push forward and land another vicious right hook, but it wasn’t enough.
‘The White Rhino’ has been here before and has suffered some major setbacks during his 13 years as a professional.
While Allen’s career appeared to be in shambles many times, he came out of retirement and began rebuilding over the last four years and will look to do so again.
A stoppage loss to David Price in 2019 resulted in Allen’s retirement from the ring, and he retired from the sport the following year.
Allen’s attention turned to training young boxers Joe Hayden and Joe Howarth, who both won on Saturday’s Sheffield undercard, before confirming his “low-level” return to the sport he loves.
After two wins in small indoor shows, the defeat to Olympic bronze medalist Frazer Clarke was only a minor setback as Allen immediately accepted the fight with undefeated heavyweight Johnny Fisher, not knowing that it would shake his career.
Allen was on the wrong end of a closely contested loss in Saudi Arabia before knocking out Fisher in a rematch at a sold-out Copper Box Arena in May 2025.
