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

[KiwiRider]

Am I mental for thinking Dave wins this?

No, Dave definitely has a puncher's chance here. When he is focused, and this time he is, he can put on a show.
Having a big payday dangled in front of the winner here is great motivation.

[THEBUTCH]

Good luck to Allen, but I'm just not feeling that he's prepared to walk through fire for the win. I'll be glad to be proven wrong !

There's one thing soaking up punishment and not going over before losing on points etc....but another thing entirely to assert one's self and go into the danger zone to pull off the win.

Will Allen employ the must-win mentally required ?

[Frostieballs]

Good luck to Allen, but I'm just not feeling that he's prepared to walk through fire for the win. I'll be glad to be proven wrong !

There's one thing soaking up punishment and not going over before losing on points etc....but another thing entirely to assert one's self and go into the danger zone to pull off the win.

Will Allen employ the must-win mentally required ?

That’s a decent take Butch.

[THEBUTCH]

Buncey did a podcast with Allen recently. For those interested :


https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0m5q0wr

[Controversial]

Good luck to Allen, but I'm just not feeling that he's prepared to walk through fire for the win. I'll be glad to be proven wrong !

There's one thing soaking up punishment and not going over before losing on points etc....but another thing entirely to assert one's self and go into the danger zone to pull off the win.

Will Allen employ the must-win mentally required ?

That’s a decent take Butch.

Yeah I agree with this. Maybe too much taken from the Fisher fights but Fisher is pretty limited. Allen has admitted he can lack confidence in fights plus he can sometimes fall into sparring partner mode. I would love him to win but I guess depends in what shape and condition Makhmudov is in, if he’s up for it then we will see how much Allen really wants it.

[THEBUTCH]

The win over Fisher in the rematch was a good result for Allen....but should be kept in context. Allen vanquished an unproven British title contender.
I'm not diminishing Allen's win, merely keeping reality close to hand.

We've seen Makhmudov isn't an unbeatable monster, even though he looks like one !

What must be examined is who beat Makhmudov and how he was beaten.

Then ask yourself has Allen got the same level of dynamism & focus as Guido Vianello and especially Kabayel ?

[joshj909]

The win over Fisher in the rematch was a good result for Allen....but should be kept in context. Allen vanquished an unproven British title contender.
I'm not diminishing Allen's win, merely keeping reality close to hand.

We've seen Makhmudov isn't an unbeatable monster, even though he looks like one !

What must be examined is who beat Makhmudov and how he was beaten.

Then ask yourself has Allen got the same level of dynamism & focus as Guido Vianello and especially Kabayel ?

I think the best thing about this fight is that ultimately, we don't know what will happen. There is no obvious favourite. Makhmudov hits very hard and has a long run of early KOs to prove that. He also beat Takam on points, could Allen do that? However, a blueprint has be written on how to beat him and that blueprint could easily suit Allen's style. Then again, we've seen Allen step up before after a big win and it didn't end well for him at all. It's just a good, unpredictable and intriguing fight on paper and you won't usually find many of them at this sort of level at heavyweight.

[chinarich]

Dave Allen is looking in the best shape he’s ever been in, so win, lose or draw he’ll have given himself the best possible chance at this. I think Allen wins by stoppage, maybe 8th round or so…

[TheLeprechaun]

I think Makh is going to run through him. 2nd round stoppage.

[KiwiRider]

I think Makh is going to run through him. 2nd round stoppage.

Have a look at Dave's career;
https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/630710
No one has 'run through him'

[joshj909]

I think Makh is going to run through him. 2nd round stoppage.

Have a look at Dave's career;
https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/630710
No one has 'run through him'

Yep, he's not touched the canvas once despite having taken dozens of heavy shots from heavy hitters like Price, Browne, Whyte and Ortiz while taking heavy shots from many others. Whether he wins or not is one thing but expecting someone who has GOAT-contending durability to be wiped out in 2 rounds is a very bold prediction.

[Grilling Machine]

Allen's increased fitness might encourage him to swarm, looking to repeat Kabayel's work to the body.

And maybe that's his best bet, but I can definitely see Mak stopping him if he gets it wrong. Might pay to be cagey for a few rounds to drain some of Mak's tank. Dunno. Feels very much a 'hindsight' fight.

[KiwiRider]

Dammit Dave!
If I had known how bloody fit you were going to get for this fight, I would have lumped on a bet back when the odds were better

[revporl]

Is it not on the telly?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Is it not on the telly?

DAZN

[JamesPhilips]

Dammit Dave!
If I had known how bloody fit you were going to get for this fight, I would have lumped on a bet back when the odds were better

The odds haven’t changed. They have been the same since the fight was announced. You can get evens on Allen straight win. 2-1 on Allen stoppage. 5-1 Allen points

[KiwiRider]

Dammit Dave!
If I had known how bloody fit you were going to get for this fight, I would have lumped on a bet back when the odds were better

The odds haven’t changed. They have been the same since the fight was announced. You can get evens on Allen straight win. 2-1 on Allen stoppage. 5-1 Allen points

Due to government regulation I can only bet with the state gambling agency here in NZ. Internet gambling sites are blocked.
At least the profits are put back in the community, but it does limit choice of odds somewhat. It's usually within 15% of the big companies, though local betting can sway the odds of course.

[JamesPhilips]

Dammit Dave!
If I had known how bloody fit you were going to get for this fight, I would have lumped on a bet back when the odds were better

The odds haven’t changed. They have been the same since the fight was announced. You can get evens on Allen straight win. 2-1 on Allen stoppage. 5-1 Allen points

Due to government regulation I can only bet with the state gambling agency here in NZ. Internet gambling sites are blocked.
At least the profits are put back in the community, but it does limit choice of odds somewhat. It's usually within 15% of the big companies, though local betting can sway the odds of course.

Wow! I don’t realise NZ had laws that strict! That’s kinda fascist / communist / whatever… I mean they’re using that as a revenue generator then? Never knew that…

[KiwiRider]

The odds haven’t changed. They have been the same since the fight was announced. You can get evens on Allen straight win. 2-1 on Allen stoppage. 5-1 Allen points

Due to government regulation I can only bet with the state gambling agency here in NZ. Internet gambling sites are blocked.
At least the profits are put back in the community, but it does limit choice of odds somewhat. It's usually within 15% of the big companies, though local betting can sway the odds of course.

Wow! I don’t realise NZ had laws that strict! That’s kinda fascist / communist / whatever… I mean they’re using that as a revenue generator then? Never knew that…

Our Lotto also channels all profits into the community, as well as our state gambling company TAB.
They do all sorts for the grass roots of sports here as well as community groups.
So call it what you want, but all that money goes back to us, not some blackcock subsidiaries

[JamesPhilips]

Due to government regulation I can only bet with the state gambling agency here in NZ. Internet gambling sites are blocked.
At least the profits are put back in the community, but it does limit choice of odds somewhat. It's usually within 15% of the big companies, though local betting can sway the odds of course.

Wow! I don’t realise NZ had laws that strict! That’s kinda fascist / communist / whatever… I mean they’re using that as a revenue generator then? Never knew that…

Our Lotto also channels all profits into the community, as well as our state gambling company TAB.
They do all sorts for the grass roots of sports here as well as community groups.
So call it what you want, but all that money goes back to us, not some blackcock subsidiaries

Yeah that sounds preferable! I just think they should allow it all

[dookus]

Allen is not at this level and will get stopped if he tries to win.

[TheLeprechaun]

I think Makh is going to run through him. 2nd round stoppage.

Have a look at Dave's career;
https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/630710
No one has 'run through him'

Yep, he's not touched the canvas once despite having taken dozens of heavy shots from heavy hitters like Price, Browne, Whyte and Ortiz while taking heavy shots from many others. Whether he wins or not is one thing but expecting someone who has GOAT-contending durability to be wiped out in 2 rounds is a very bold prediction.

None of those bring the insane wreckless pressure of Makh, who doesn't know how to fight any other way. Price stood off all night. The shoulder rolling attempt from Price would have been sheer comedy except it worked since Dave was a punch bag. Whyte, Ortiz boxed from the outside. Browne is awful. Mak is coming like a train compared to them. And Dave is going to try to stand there and ride the shots and absorb them on the gloves and arms. I just see heavy leather hitting him here and the Homer Simpson style won't work. Dave doesn't even have the movement and length of a Wach, who was done in 6 by Makh. Wach at least tries to maintain distance, move and spoil at times.

The only people who saw round 4 vs Makh had way more movement and agility than Dave is capable of. If you are going to stand in front of Makh the way Dave is then good luck. Just watch the first round of any Makh fight. He slings punches like a lunatic. Dave telegraphing wild overhands looking for a home run punch over the top might get lucky. Hammering Makh to the body might get lucky. But generally speaking, Dave is going to be used as a heavy bag here and I doubt any heavyweight can withstand Makhs assault the way Dave is going to have to in order to take over. Styles make fights as they say. Lets not forget that Dave is a quitter too when the going gets tough, as it will in the first 30 seconds here. I think he will be looking for the exit if he's still upright after 3 rounds, if he hasn't already checked out that is.

Johnny Fisher is a comedy act fighter. Those wins mean nothing other than to see that Dave still has no mobility and is going to have to be a punch bag to win fights. It won't be working against a monster like Makh. Not to mention the dodgy Darch fight. I'll have some money on Makh round 1 myself...

[Coco]

I really don't think the Russian is too good.

Fisher made Allen look good, subsequently his confirmation, fitness and gym work has improved.

I still see the Doncaster man as British level, but that should be good enough to beat Mak.

Mak will look great against a fragile fighter, but there is no plan B

[rd350lc]

I really don't think the Russian is too good.

Fisher made Allen look good, subsequently his confirmation, fitness and gym work has improved.

I still see the Doncaster man as British level, but that should be good enough to beat Mak.

Mak will look great against a fragile fighter, but there is no plan B

Thing is what is British level at heavyweight nowadays?
We've had a few of the better heavyweights in the world of late.

[Ruthless-RKO]