BoxRec

Dave Allen set to face Arslanbek Makhmudov in October heavyweight headliner

A local headliner awaits fan-favorite heavyweight Dave Allen.

Doncaster's Allen is set to face Canadian-based Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov on Oct. 11 at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England, sources close to the situation told Uncrowned.

Allen vs. Makhmudov will serve as the main event of a DAZN-streamed show promoted by Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing.

Allen (24-7-2, 19 KOs) earned a career-best win in May in London when he knocked out the undefeated Matchroom prospect Johnny Fisher in the fifth round. It was a rematch of their first contest, which took place this past December in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Fisher won a contentious split decision on that occasion, although many felt that Allen deserved the nod.

Following Allen's second win over Fisher, Hearn's Matchroom exercised a two-fight option on Allen. The first of those bouts will be against Makhmudov.

In December 2023, now-top-10 heavyweight Agit Kabayel shocked Makhmudov (20-2, 19 KOs) and ended his unbeaten run. Makhmudov rebounded with a win in May 2024 but was stopped again by Guido Vianello this past August in Quebec. After knocking out Ricardo Brown in June, Makhmudov is set for another chance in a big heavyweight fight.

Also expected to land on the Oct. 11 fight card is a British and Commonwealth middleweight title defense for Kieron Conway (23-3-1, 7 KOs) against George Liddard (12-0, 7 KOs), as well as the English super welterweight title rematch between Junaid Bostan (10-0-1, 8 KOs) and Bilal Fawaz (9-1-1, 3 KOs).

Liddard and Conway were both on the Fisher vs. Allen 2 undercard, where they produced impressive stoppage victories. Their domestic encounter represents a crossroads matchup between a top prospect on an upward trajectory and a battle-hardened contender looking to work his way back up to another big fight at the world level.

Makhmudov is a lot more aggressive and heavy handed than Fisher.

He's also folded a couple of times when his opponents have stuck up to him. Kabayel destroyed him with bodywork which no doubt Allen will have noted.

If Allen is fit and focussed I reckon that he can stop Makhmudov, it's a very hard fight but winnable.

This could either look like Allen vs Price or Allen vs Webb/Browne. High risk high reward and it will test Allen's chin and his will once again but he can get the win as the blueprint to beating Makhmudov has been written. Interesting fight.

Bloody hell, I'm on a cruise that weekend. Decent fight and in Sheffield and I'm away

MasterG wrote: ↑26 Jul 2025, 11:08 Bloody hell, I'm on a cruise that weekend. Decent fight and in Sheffield and I'm away

ask them to pull in mate, near a pub

I like this matchup.
It's very important that the referee lets Dave work on the inside though.
A lot could depend on that.
Gosh I'm struggling to pick a winner, which means it's going to be a good fight.

I don’t hate this for Dave if he is fit as fornicate. But I kinda don’t love it either. I really wanted him to get an easier fight next then somthing like this after that’s

Mak has shown vulnerability’s at a high level, but he is still very big and very dangerouse for Dave.

Like always Dave’s big loopy right and left rip to the body should be the best bet. Both things I think mak is very susceptible too, so I guess that’s why Dave picked this…

Still very keen to know what the other 4 options were, and if they were same cash…

MasterG wrote: ↑26 Jul 2025, 11:08 Bloody hell, I'm on a cruise that weekend. Decent fight and in Sheffield and I'm away

Cosy up with the crew members. They'll be able to get it.

Allen is coming off a great win & his stock is high which means he'll put in a poor performance

And Makhmudov has fought at a higher class than Fisher has or ever will....and Allen is no Kabayel.

I don't rate Allen's chances.

THEBUTCH wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025, 10:38 And Makhmudov has fought at a higher class than Fisher has or ever will....and Allen is no Kabayel.

I don't rate Allen's chances.

Allen shouldn't be the favourite, but it should be a good payday which will be competitive, I think its a decent fight.

Also let's see where the Russian is, been KO'd twice in his last 3, sometimes fighters can fall off a cliff

Gotta be strong mentally to take on Arslanbek, as there’s always the chance you could faint dead away at the sight of him standing In the other corner.

I think Allen will beat him.

Taansend wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025, 10:01 Allen is coming off a great win & his stock is high which means he'll put in a poor performance

Good observation tho' - he'll need to be in top shope phys. and m. which he ain't always.

Anything could happen, which makes it a great fight
(can't really see Mak points tbf).

Dave Allen-Arslanbek Makhmudov eyed for October 19 in Sheffield

Dave Allen’s confidence continues to ride high after his big win over Johnny Fisher.

The proof can be found in his next planned fight, where he chose the toughest of six offered opponents.

BS has learned that Allen will next face big hitter Arslanbek Makhmudov. Matchroom is expected to announce full details in the coming days, though the current working plan has the fight topping an October 11 show from Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England.

Uncrowned’s Darshan Desai was the first to report the development.

The crossroads bout will mark the second ring appearance for each fighter.

Allen, 24-7-2 (19 KOs) is flying high after a stunning, fifth-round knockout of unbeaten Johnny Fisher this past May 17 at the famed Copper Box Arena in Hackney Wick. Fisher was violently dropped twice in the fifth, the latter which produced the stoppage at the end of the round.

The win was vindication for Allen, who was denied the upset in a disputed split decision defeat to Fisher last December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Other options were available on this date for Allen, who reportedly wanted a stiff test for his next outing. Among the mentioned names from whom Allen had to choose include: 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka, who has struggled in the pro ranks; fringe contender Otto Wallin; and unbeaten but unproven heavyweights Alexis Barriere and Nelson Hysa.

Makhmudov, 20-2 (19 KOs) still represents a dangerous night at the office for most heavyweights, though he will enter this fight with something to prove.

The 36-year-old Russian knockout artist – now based in Montreal, Canada – was on a roll until he ran into Agit Kabayel. Their December 2023 clash between unbeaten heavyweights saw Makhmudov suffer a stunning fourth-round knockout defeat in Riyadh.

Kabayel has since emerged as a top-five heavyweight and the current WBC interim heavyweight titlist.

Makhmudov has won two of his last three bouts, though the loss during that stretch is more telling of his current state. He was stopped in the eighth round by Italy’s Guido Vianello last August 17 at Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada. The setback came three months after a confidence-restoring second-round knockout of Miljan Rovcanin last May 25.

His most recent outing saw Makhmudov blast out unbeaten but largely untested Ricardo Brown in the first round on June 27, also at Centre Videotron.

The bout with Allen will mark Makhmudov’s first pro fight on British soil. It will take place mere minutes from Allen’s Doncaster home base.

Who'd have thought even nearly 8 years later, Allen being Hearn's best British heavyweight.

Just been rewatching Kabayel dismantling big Mak from the outside for two rounds, then going for it and chopping the giant down.
(full fight HD if you missed it)


Don't know if Dave can do that, but he definitely has the speed over Mak.

speedy dave allen

I don't know how many big hits Allen can take from Big Mak so hopefully he's on quick and slippery mode come October 11th.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑30 Jul 2025, 17:39 speedy dave allen

*In comparison to the Russian giant he is.

i dunno they both seem similarly slow to me. and when it comes to foot speed in particular dave isnt even beating mak. but dave is more compact with his hooks tbf . he should obviously work the body over. allen has a good chance with mak being a bit of a glass cannon, this is the type dave should excel against with his chin and solid power

dave should be able to take mak's stuff better than mak can take his, for dave it will be about getting his shots off and being fit enough to keep at it (tbf hardly a given with allen, but its good at least he's getting a kick on shortly after beating fish and doesnt have too much time to sit around)

are there odds out on this yet? hope dave is an underdog, this is timed/matched right for him

prime dave price vs big mak woulda been cool

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑30 Jul 2025, 19:55 prime dave price vs big mak woulda been cool

like watching an arcade boxing game from the '80s

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.