Dave Allen vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov | DAZN - 11 October 2025

[keithmoonhangover]

I think that Mak has had the confidence knocked out of him. He resembles the fairground giant in The League Of Gentlemen these days, despite his last win.

His two defeats were against guys who had sound boxing skills and good feet. His confidence will grow as soon as he starts landing on Dave. I still think Allen will win and it might even go to an unlikely points decision.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Eddie Hearn on Dave Allen-Arslanbek Makhmudov: ‘Dave Allen is mad’

Popular English heavyweight Dave Allen’s next fight looks set in stone and, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn, will be a “thriller."

Allen has been riding high since his spectacular fifth-round finish of rising heavyweight Johnny Fisher in May. Once a promising heavyweight himself, Allen was a favorite amongst British fight fans, but his out the ring antics were detrimental to his performances inside it and he soon slumped down to the small-hall scene.

The win over Fisher propelled Allen back into the spotlight and back into the hearts of many who had followed him for years. It seemed as though the man who once saw training as optional had finally learned his lesson and might finally reach his potential.

Allen, 24-7-2 (19 KOs), was rumoured to be challenging for the vacant British title against Jeaime Tshikeva [TKV], but the British Boxing Board of Control instead ordered Tshikeva to face Frazer Clarke for the Lonsdale belt. That left Allen needing an opponent to headline the Sheffield Arena on a rumoured date of October 19. The name of the mooted opponent was Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov, a heavy-handed Russian who is 20-2 (19 KOs) as a professional and has only been beaten by Agit Kabayel and Guido Vianello. Hearn was recently asked for his thoughts on Makhmudov as an opponent for Allen and all but confirmed the clash.

“I think Dave Allen's mad,” Hearn said. “I mean, I was in a situation where I gave him a list of names and he chose the most dangerous one, the one that would probably be the most gruelling, the most physical, all because he told me he was petrified of him. I said, ‘Why would you choose from a list of six fighters, the one you're most petrified of?’ He said, ‘Because I'll be able to train properly.’ I said, ‘Dave I've given up trying to understand you years ago, but thank you because you're going to give us a thriller in October.’

“That'll be announced this week.”

[MasterG]

Now this is the 19th it works for me. Not on schedule yet so not really fixed.

[JC]

For some reason, this feels to me like a fight that won't happen. No basis for that other than a hunch, but I can sense a late replacement or something.

[Ruthless-RKO]

11th after all

[Ruthless-RKO]

DAVE ALLEN-ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV SET FOR OCT. 11, MATCHROOM ANNOUNCE AUTUMN SCHEDULE

Dave Allen will face a huge step-up in competition on Oct. 11 as he takes on once-feared heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov at Sheffield's Utilita Arena. The fight will stream live on DAZN.

After his controversial draw with Johnny Fisher last December, Allen's previously wilderness-bound career was set alight once again and things only got better on May 17 when the Doncaster man viciously knocked Fisher out in fifth round of their Copper Box rematch.

As a result of his victory, Allen (24-7, 19 KOs) signed a multi-fight deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing and a plan was put in place to land the 33-year-old a big fight.

Clashes with Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker were discussed, as was a shot for the vacant British title against Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva.

Those fights weren't able to materialise, so Allen will fight Makhmudov, a 36-year-old power puncher from Russia who was unbeaten until Agit Kabayel knocked him out in the fourth round of their December 2023 encounter.

Makhmudov (20-2, 19 KOs) has also lost to Guido Vianello since then, but last fought in June, winning by first-round knockout against Ricardo Brown.

Allen said: “I’m buzzing to headline Sheffield’s Utilita Arena. It’s always been a dream of mine. I'm a big boxing fan and I’ve seen the likes of Prince Nasem Hamed, Kell Brook and Dalton Smith top the bill there over the years. So for me to have my name up there headlining at what is practically my home arena is amazing.

"Arslanbek Makhmudov - I think it really is the biggest test available. He looks the part. He’s had some very good wins and he has a high world ranking. A win over him will put me right up there on the world stage. It might be a shot to nothing. And I might go in as the underdog. But I’m up for it. It’s one last shot at the big time for me."

[Ruthless-RKO]

[skanksta]

It really is the Fisher fight all over again isn't it ?

Big scary banger who can't box vs Dave.
Logically, Mak should be about 50x better (and scarier!) than 'Bosh' and therefore win.
BUT..
Dave's at home, in form and knows exactly what to do. While Mak very well be mentally shot and taking a payday.
Lot of people picking Dave...

[KiwiRider]

It really is the Fisher fight all over again isn't it ?

Big scary banger who can't box vs Dave.
Logically, Mak should be about 50x better (and scarier!) than 'Bosh' and therefore win.
BUT..
Dave's at home, in form and knows exactly what to do. While Mak very well be mentally shot and taking a payday.
Lot of people picking Dave...

Big Mak is bloody scary. Not just the size and power- but those teeny eyes!!
Hey Skanky, are you buying the Whyte/Itauma fight?
I said you'd be the only one on here to buy it, please don't make me a liar

[skanksta]

It really is the Fisher fight all over again isn't it ?

Big scary banger who can't box vs Dave.
Logically, Mak should be about 50x better (and scarier!) than 'Bosh' and therefore win.
BUT..
Dave's at home, in form and knows exactly what to do. While Mak very well be mentally shot and taking a payday.
Lot of people picking Dave...

Big Mak is bloody scary. Not just the size and power- but those teeny eyes!!
Hey Skanky, are you buying the Whyte/Itauma fight?
I said you'd be the only one on here to buy it, please don't make me a liar

shh, !
Yes I'll buy it - I may even have already.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[gregregegg]

Can believe bookies have Dave favorite. I love Dave and he is a live dog but he’s don’t even know if I would bet on Dave to be fit this far out.

If Dave was looking fit as fvck and make was heavy then I got it a 50-50 but 10 weeks out those things are far from certain.

[KiwiRider]

Can believe bookies have Dave favorite. I love Dave and he is a live dog but he’s don’t even know if I would bet on Dave to be fit this far out.

If Dave was looking fit as fvck and make was heavy then I got it a 50-50 but 10 weeks out those things are far from certain.

The bookies are probably going to get more Brits than Russians betting anyway.
As for Dave being fit for the fight- His reasoning about choosing Big Mak off a list of 6 potential opponents offered to him by Eddie (seeing as Dave is now his top HW) was that he was scared enough of Big Mak ( probably the teeny tiny eyes) to give himself incentive to train properly
Which is probably a jokingly serious remark from Dave.

[Ruthless-RKO]

ALLEN-MAKHMUDOV: JOSH PADLEY-REECE BELLOTTI, TRIO OF UNBEATEN PROSPECTS ADDED TO OCT. 11 UNDERCARD

Former lightweight world title challenger Josh Padley will make his junior lightweight debut against recently-defeated former British and Commonwealth divisional champion Reece Bellotti.

That is the eye-catching headline from Matchroom's announcement this afternoon, unveiling more undercard information to fill out the Dave Allen-Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard on October 11.

Concerns have been raised about the timing of Bellotti's return, which will come just two-and-a-half months removed from a gruelling 12-round main event matchup against an in-form Ryan Garner on July 26.

Garner (18-0, 9 KOs) finished with a flourish and scored a stoppage over the Watford man, 34, to inflict his sixth career loss - and first since former WBA featherweight champion Raymond Ford needed three rounds to do the same, four years ago this month.

Afterwards, Bellotti joked with the media that he'd be paid significantly less and lose opportunities with Eddie Hearn after being the latest to come unstuck against a allegedly-backed Queensberry fighter, though many critics were uncomfortable with the news he'd be back so soon.

Padley responded to one in particular on X, saying: "Sometimes, best way to get over something is to get right back to it. I was back in the ring 8 weeks after taking my beating from Shakur, Reece got 10. He'll be ready to go, I'm sure."

Padley was thrust into the Saudi spotlight on short-notice and exceeded expectations during a courageous display against reigning WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) on February 22, earning himself a Matchroom contract despite a ninth-round stoppage defeat.

The Yorkshireman (16-1, 5 KOs) was given a hero's reception on his in-ring return two months later, scoring a fifth-round stoppage win over Marko Cvetanovic on the Dalton Smith-Mathieu Germain undercard before admitting he was open to moving down in weight - provided his team deemed he could do so healthily. Now, he gets an opportune chance.

Elsewhere, Manchester light-heavyweight Conner Tudsbury (2-0, 1 KO) returns in his third six-round contest. After a pair of eight-round decision wins in Nottingham and his native Birmingham, junior lightweight Ibraheem Sulaimaan (8-0, 4 KOs) has another assignment as he gradually steps towards title level while Walsall flyweight Hamza Uddin (5-0, 2 KOs) is also back on the schedule.

Unbeaten talent Junaid Bostan's wish for a home game was granted, as he'll rematch Bilal Fawaz for the vacant English junior middleweight title after their contentious 10-round split draw on January 31.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Dave Allen vows to shock boxing again by beating Arslanbek Makhmudov at Sheffield Arena

Dave Allen headlines against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Sheffield Arena on October 11 as he looks to follow up his stunning knockout win over Johnny Fisher; Allen tells Sky Sports he has spoken to Prince Naseem Hamed about joining him on his ring walk in Sheffield

Dave Allen has pound signs and a happy ride off into the sunset in mind as he seeks to upset the odds once more.

The White Rhino will headline Sheffield Arena for the biggest fight of his career on October 11 when he takes on the powerful Arslanbek Makhmudov.

It is deemed a significant step up in opponent for the Brit, who himself showcased his own punch ferocity with a devastating knockout victory over Johnny Fisher in May.

"I think I thrive off the underdog tag I've had most of my career, every time I've been expected to win I get beat, I'm not very good with pressure," Allen told Sky Sports.

"That's why I picked Makhmudov, I think a lot of people will expect him to beat me but I like that and I like to shock.

"When he gets in there with me, most fighters when they get in there with me are a little surprised that I'm more defensively cuter than they expect, I'm a lot stronger than they think.

"I think I can beat him, I am the underdog but I think I've got the right style to beat him."

Makhmudov arrives 20-2 in his professional career, having been undefeated through 18 fights before suffering a fourth-round stoppage against world title contender Agit Kabayel in December 2023.

He has since also been beaten by Italy's Guido Vianello between wins over Ricardo Brown and Miljan Rovcanin.

Allen meanwhile enters 24-7-2 amid a storied career as one of the most popular figures in British boxing, reignited by his win over Fisher having been controversially been denied victory in the pair's first meeting.

"The motivation is I'll be really rich if I beat him," said Allen.

"If I beat him then wow, I'll be so rich it's unbelievable.

"I'm not bothered about him, I just want to beat him, have another big fight and then hopefully chill out for the rest of my life. That's the plan."

Promoter Eddie Hearn joked of his disbelief in Allen's decision to face Makhmudov, but the 33-year-old welcomes the challenge as a perfect opportunity to tee up another high-profile fight.

"When you headline Sheffield Arena, Naseem Hamed did, Kell Brook did, Dalton Smith, it's my turn now," said Allen.

"When I got the list of names sent, I thought I might as well make the most of it and I picked Makhmudov.

"He's big, dangerous, somebody that will help fill Sheffield Arena out and if I beat him it will send me on to big fights."

Allen first fought at Sheffield Arena back in April 2013; over a decade on, he is preparing to headline there.

"I'm over the moon, it's something I've always wanted to do," he said.

"I've been in touch with Naseem Hamed about doing the ring walk with me.

"It's great to join that list of names, I'm from Doncaster but to headline Sheffield Arena I'm really proud of it."

[Ruthless-RKO]

On winding up with Makhmudov as his opponent
“Straight after Fisher, the plan was to box for the British title (against Jeamie TKV) … We kind of assumed that was a given, really. I didn’t really give any thought that Frazer Clarke might box for it instead. … I asked about Lenroy Thomas and Chris Lovejoy and got told fuckin’ where to go.”

“Out of (the options), I thought Makhmudov was the biggest, the scariest, the most dangerous, so let’s box him. That’s it, that was my thinking behind it. The other four were well capable of beating me, but I didn’t think they were going to come out and try to take my head off in round one. I might get out-pointed by all four of them, but they’re not going to knock me out in round one and embarrass me. And I just thought stylistically I’ve got probably a better chance of beating him than the other four.”

On whether or not he truly requested a Lenroy Thomas rematch
“100 percent I did, I said, ‘Let’s box Lenroy Thomas.’ (Eddie Hearn) said, ‘fornicate off.’”

[Is Lenroy Thomas still active?] “No, he’s not, it would have been perfect. I’ll fuckin’ do ya this time. … I know he’s been inactive and that, but he beat me, so I don’t want to say he’s too shit.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[SeanBrennan]

Dave is training early for this, bodes very well, and has a nutritionist on board. Would be brilliant if he wins. Makh is huge though, came across very likeable too in his interview on Boxing King Media. Dave seems extremely surprised by how many tickets he has sold, he's very popular though.

[gregregegg]

a lot has been said about Dave's shape... and its the obvious question for British boxing fans... but something I am equally interested in is Maks shape...

Mak is giant, he is 36, and has had very few compeditive fights, has looked weak to the body, first 12 rounder...

[SeanBrennan]

a lot has been said about Dave's shape... and its the obvious question for British boxing fans... but something I am equally interested in is Maks shape...

Mak is giant, he is 36, and has had very few compeditive fights, has looked weak to the body, first 12 rounder...

Jesus it's his first 12 rounder at 36, did not know that.

[keithmoonhangover]

Changed my mind, Dave will win this one by stoppage, not a doubt in my mind.

[SeanBrennan]

I hope Makh comes out to Return of the Mack

[Ruthless-RKO]

JOSH PADLEY RECOGNIZES REECE BELLOTTI IS NO PUSHOVER, REPRESENTS CHANCE TO MAKE STATEMENT

Josh Padley is expecting to face a real test of his junior lightweight credentials when he makes his 130-pound debut against Reece Bellotti.

Just two weeks ago, Bellotti was stopped in the 12th and final round of his vacant European title fight with Ryan Garner.

The 35-year-old may have lost his British and Commonwealth belts but his whole hearted effort and decision to chase an unlikely knockout victory rather than navigate his way to a decision defeat proved that he still has his desire and determination.

Padley (16-1, 5 KOs) is seen as a fighter on the rise, but he knows that Bellotti (20-6, 15 KOs) isn’t the type of character who will go through the motions and turn up for a payday.

He knows that he will have a real fight on his hands when the two meet on the undercard of the heavyweight fight between Dave Allen and Arslanbek Makhmudov on Oct. 11. DAZN will broadcast the event from Sheffield, England.

“He's no pushover, Reece, and he comes time and time again. Within the fight, he's not going to be giving you any room whatsoever. That's his style,” Padley told The Ring.

“You've just got to look at Reece's career. It's not the first time he's lost. He’s lost, what is it now, five, six times? But he comes back.

“I'm obviously mindful of the fact that people say he might be on his way out. That's not Reece’s style. If he were going to do that, he'd have done that when he went on a couple of fight losing streak before.

“He hasn't got it in him. He just comes to give it everything he's got. With the Garner fight, the better man just won on the night so I'm sure Reece is going to come and try and put his wrongs right against me.”

Unless you are a close follower of the regional British scene, it is highly likely that you know Padley, 29, for his exploits on Riyadh Season cards.

In September 2024 he stepped up to 140 pounds and upset the highly touted Mark Chamberlain on the undercard of Daniel Dubois’ knockout of Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium.

This February, Floyd Schofield’s late withdrawal left event organisers scrambling for somebody to challenge Shakur Stevenson for his WBC lightweight title. Padley answered a desperately late call, and although he was stopped in the ninth round his game effort earned him respect.

His reward was a promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing and the opportunity to make boxing his sole occupation rather than combining it with his job as an electrician.

The Stevenson excursion was a lucrative but premature step into world class, but Padley now has the security and backing to build properly.

“My career's a bit of a funny one because I've sort of been to the pinnacle of the sport before I've come up through the domestic scene,” he said.

“I went from a Central Area title fight to fighting at Wembley and it should have been for a WBC silver title against Chamberlain, but the weight got changed and we had to pull the fight for the belt so it's a bit of a funny one.

“Now I've been up at world level, it's about coming down a little bit but I also want to get back up there so I think Reece is the perfect opportunity.”

Britain has a rich mix of fighters competing at 130. Garner and experienced WBA interim champion Jazza Dickens will eventually become Padley’s natural targets but his own profile will make him a target for a youngsters Royston Barney-Smith, Giorgio Visioli and Ibraheem Sulaimaan.

Bellotti sits somewhere in the middle. He has separated himself from his domestic rivals and only came up short at European level.

He should provide Padley an ideal gauge of where he stands in his new weight class.

“Those guys obviously have never really been on my radar because I've obviously always been at lightweight and sometimes I’ve even have to be up at super lightweight,” he said.

“Now that I'm down there, [Bellotti] is a perfect name for me to make a statement against in my first fight at junior lightweight.”