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

[Ruthless-RKO]

TRAINER: DAVE ALLEN ONE WIN AWAY FROM MATCHUPS WITH JOSEPH PARKER, DEONTAY WILDER

Dave Allen’s trainer, Jamie Moore, says that he doesn’t know where the Doncaster heavyweight’s ceiling is as he prepares the 33-year-old for his upcoming fight with Russia’s Arslanbek Mahkmudov.

The 12-round heavyweight fight will take place at Sheffield Arena on October 11. DAZN will broadcast the action.

Allen (24-7-2, 19 KOs) has said that he chose the heavy-handed Makhmudov as he carries an air of fear and threat that would help push him through training, but he and Moore wouldn’t have jumped directly into a dangerous fight that they had no chance of winning.

Makhmudov (20-2, 19 KOs) has an intimidating presence, but the 36-year-old has had his weaknesses exposed twice over the past 20 months.

In December 2023, the excellent Agit Kabayel quickly broke him down with well-placed body shots and forced a fourth-round stoppage. Last August, he had no answer for Guido Vianello’s accurate punching and his face was badly swollen by the time the ringside doctor halted the action in the eighth.

Moore knows that the fight offers Allen a potentially dangerous but winnable path to a major fight.

“I think the risk-reward is worth it for Dave at this stage of his career now,” Moore said during an appearance on talkSPORT Boxing.

“He can't afford tick over fights. If he's going to be moving in that trajectory where he needs to earn good money and change his family's life, this is the type of fight. He’s one win away from fighting somebody like a Joseph Parker or a Deontay Wilder.”

For a long time, Allen meandered aimlessly. He would rush into hard tests before he was ready for them and then think himself out of winnable fights.

A recent two-fight series with Johnny Fisher revitalised his career. After losing a controversial split decision in their first meeting, Allen took the popular “Romford Bull” apart in the rematch, stopping him in five rounds.

He now has an unlikely opportunity to change the course of his career and alter the widely held perception that he is a capable fighter who has allowed his talent to go to waste.

Moore has been an admirer of Allen’s talents since they first came into each other’s orbits more than five years ago.

Now that Allen is fully invested, Moore believes that his past difficulties can now help him succeed.

“He's just turned 33 but the weird part about this is that Dave picked up so much ring craft in those years where he wasn't fit,” Moore said.

"Because he was fighting such good fighters, the experience that he got and the way he had to look after himself because he wasn't conditioned, he's now carrying that into this stage of his career. He’s got all that experience, that durability, that ring craft and, now he's fit with it, he can apply his offensive stuff added to the defensive stuff that he’s picked to over the years. He's created such a rounded fighter."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Arslanbek Makhmudov has confirmed that a blockbuster showdown with Anthony Joshua could be next if he defeats Dave Allen in Sheffield on October 11.

[THEBUTCH]

I don't think Makhmudov lacks motivation but if he did, then a big arena fight with AJ is a huge carrot

What Arslanbek lacks is resistance to good body shots judging by the defeat he suffered to Kabayel.

[joshj909]

Arslanbek Makhmudov has confirmed that a blockbuster showdown with Anthony Joshua could be next if he defeats Dave Allen in Sheffield on October 11.

That could be an absolute shoot out. Both carry power but have shown to be vulnerable recently

[TheLeprechaun]

Daves problem is that he's not the kind of guy who uses lateral movement. He stands there and tries to take the sting out of shots but takes cuffing shots and some clean ones for good measure. He's standing there in front of his opponent with his gloves up and trying to slip and slide. Makhmudov has no accuracy but he will come after Dave and throw the kitchen sink at him. He doesn't mind clubbing his opponents around the back of the head, much like Hrgovic will do if given the chance. I hope we don't see the likes of Howard Foster in there looking to disqualify Makhmudov for it.

Dave is going to be shipping some leather here and I think he is going to need the Homer Simpson approach in the sense that he will have to absorb punishment to take over in the fight after a few rounds. Makhmudov really is poor but he makes up for it by being as intense as a dog staring at food on the table and he will come after Dave aggressively. He was mullered to the body by Kabayel but I'm not sure any heavyweight can beat Kabayel. Viannello beat Mak but he makes Dave look like a tortoise. Mak is definitely vulnerable himself but I can't see Dave winning this. I think Dave needs to just get punches off from the jump rather than coming in to absorb punishment and take over. If you push Makh back I doubt he has much and his confidence will go. He will have to target the body but his telegraphed overhands might land. This is a huge step up from the likes of Johnny Fisher who really is a very poor operator indeed.

[THEBUTCH]

I think some might be overlooking the gulf between Allen cold-cocking Johnny Fisher & Nick Webb and doing the same to Makhmudov....and an even bigger gulf in being demolished by Kabayel and the chances of Allen doing the same.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[tigermoth87]

Dave by mid round KO. I reckon Dave sees winning this as a good chance to get a solid, final payday against one of the other British heavyweights. So he'll be motivated and actually bother getting in shape and preparing.

[Fearful_Freddie]

Looking good. Hope he continues to do well. Fighting for his family now.

[Nightmare Roy]

Hope Dave can pull it off

[SeanBrennan]

Me too, he’s got Joe Hayden one of his fighters on the undercard now too, always looking out for his fighters.

[mickey1975]

Me too, he’s got Joe Hayden one of his fighters on the undercard now too, always looking out for his fighters.

Atang pulled out, slight injury, so an opportunity came up.

[Cbarnes19]

Am I mental for thinking Dave wins this?

Makhmudov obviously very dangerous early on but if he’s not able to get him out there in the first few I can see him fading and Dave chipping away at the body and slowly getting on top to stop him later on.

What are you lot saying about it?

[Ruthless-RKO]

What are you lot saying about it?

Being discussed here

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

[Cbarnes19]

What are you lot saying about it?

Being discussed here

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

Thanks mate didn’t see that one

[Ruthless-RKO]

Bellew foresees Allen getting a late stoppage victory.

“Makhmudov is dangerous. We’ve seen he can be out-fought and outwitted and hurt himself by Agit Kabayel. But he’s a big, dangerous lump. This is going to go one of two ways.

“Either he comes in and give’s Dave some licks and knocks him out pretty quick, or, my version of events, what I think will happen is Dave Allen will get rid of this fella in about seven or eight rounds but he’ll take a few, and he’ll have to absorb some, and then I think Dave might outman him down the stretch and stop him late.”

[MasterG]

If Dave wins I think he should try to negotiate a minor world title shot, IBO, WBU, if they are still around

[SeanBrennan]

Me too, he’s got Joe Hayden one of his fighters on the undercard now too, always looking out for his fighters.

Atang pulled out, slight injury, so an opportunity came up.

Cheers Mickey didn’t know that.
Atang seems a real incredible prospect doesn’t he. From York too, I never expected a boxer from there as it seems so posh but they’ve definitely made a proper prospect in young Leo.

[mickey1975]

Me too, he’s got Joe Hayden one of his fighters on the undercard now too, always looking out for his fighters.

Atang pulled out, slight injury, so an opportunity came up.

Cheers Mickey didn’t know that.
Atang seems a real incredible prospect doesn’t he. From York too, I never expected a boxer from there as it seems so posh but they’ve definitely made a proper prospect in young Leo.

Although there are parts of York and a lot of people that are far from posh Leo does come from a very good background. We have a good few more coming soon.

[SeanBrennan]

Atang pulled out, slight injury, so an opportunity came up.

Cheers Mickey didn’t know that.
Atang seems a real incredible prospect doesn’t he. From York too, I never expected a boxer from there as it seems so posh but they’ve definitely made a proper prospect in young Leo.

Although there are parts of York and a lot of people that are far from posh Leo does come from a very good background. We have a good few more coming soon.

Thanks Mickey I was being a bit crass mate I know York like all places will have large parts struggling etc. good luck to the lad he’s meant to be very humble, Dave Allen says he’s lovely

[mickey1975]

Cheers Mickey didn’t know that.
Atang seems a real incredible prospect doesn’t he. From York too, I never expected a boxer from there as it seems so posh but they’ve definitely made a proper prospect in young Leo.

Although there are parts of York and a lot of people that are far from posh Leo does come from a very good background. We have a good few more coming soon.

Thanks Mickey I was being a bit crass mate I know York like all places will have large parts struggling etc. good luck to the lad he’s meant to be very humble, Dave Allen says he’s lovely

He is. He spotted me on the plane home from Belfast last week and waited when we got off for a catch up. There are no skeletons in his cupboard. None. I said on here years ago he's a PR dream.

[SeanBrennan]

Although there are parts of York and a lot of people that are far from posh Leo does come from a very good background. We have a good few more coming soon.

Thanks Mickey I was being a bit crass mate I know York like all places will have large parts struggling etc. good luck to the lad he’s meant to be very humble, Dave Allen says he’s lovely

He is. He spotted me on the plane home from Belfast last week and waited when we got off for a catch up. There are no skeletons in his cupboard. None. I said on here years ago he's a PR dream.

that is absolutely belter, so good to hear. thanks for sharing. Even his name is sound and there's loads of things that go with it for a ring moniker.

And he's still developing. Frightening level of talent. Going to be so good to see.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Gran Hermano]

Am I mental for thinking Dave wins this?

Makhmudov obviously very dangerous early on but if he’s not able to get him out there in the first few I can see him fading and Dave chipping away at the body and slowly getting on top to stop him later on.

What are you lot saying about it?

Much like I couldn’t see Crawford losing - I can’t see a way Allen loses this one

[skanksta]

I think some might be overlooking the gulf between Allen cold-cocking Johnny Fisher & Nick Webb and doing the same to Makhmudov....and an even bigger gulf in being demolished by Kabayel and the chances of Allen doing the same.

Yep very easy to see the gameplan and think..,
"Allen vs Fisher was very similar to Kabayel vs Mak - Dave should be able to execute"

I kinda DO think that, but there is two big class differences there.