Dave Allen vs. Zhilei Zhang - September 2026

[Ruthless-RKO]

Dave Allen Expects To Face Zhilei Zhang Next In September

Dave Allen has disclosed that a September clash with Zhilei Zhang is in the works.

“The White Rhino” suffered a points defeat against Arslanbek Makhmudov after 10 hard-fought rounds in October, but he got back to his winning ways in Nottingham on Saturday night. England’s Allen (25-8-2, 20 KOs) wiped out Frenchman Karim Berredjem in just 57 seconds as part of the undercard for Leigh Wood’s long-awaited rematch with Josh Warrington.
But now the 33-year-old from Conisbrough, Yorkshire has confirmed that talks are ongoing about a far sterner test, which is expected to take place sometime in September.

“I think it’s going to be Zhilei Zhang,” Allen told First Round TV, a podcast hosted by his one-time trainer and former IBF middleweight champion Darren Barker. “I think it’s going to happen. We’ve already spoken about it. They mentioned Zhilei Zhang to me and I’ve never backed down from anyone in my life and I’m not going to start with him.”

“Big Bang” Zhang (27-3-1, 22 KOs), the Chinese southpaw, has been out of the ring for a whole year, dating back to his sixth-round stoppage defeat at the hands of Agit Kabayel in February 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

But the 42-year-old Zhang has happy memories of England, having stopped Joe Joyce in stunning fashion in two consecutive fights in 2023. His most recent victory was his brutal knockout of former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in June 2024 in Riyadh.

“All I want to do is entertain everyone,” Allen said, “and if I box Zhilei Zhang, one of two things will happen: I’ll get flattened for the first time or he will be knackered after three rounds and I’ll beat him on points.”

[jameswilson]

Brain damage incoming.

[Grilling Machine]

Allen said, “and if I box Zhilei Zhang, one of two things will happen: I’ll get flattened for the first time or he will be knackered after three rounds and I’ll beat him on points.”

Or...

Zhang won't have to expend energy chasing Allen, so fighting at his own pace can put a sustained, life-changing beating on him.

[joshj909]

Allen's iron chin is going to get tested to its limits.... For 4 rounds. Then it's going to be a challenge for him to see if he can stop Zhang. It's an all or nothing fight both ways despite Zhang being the far superior boxer. One thing that is worth noting, Allen thought he would outlast Price and Makhmudov by just having an iron chin and that didn't help him

[gilgamesh]

Zhang is gonna stop Allen.

[margaret thatcher]

Allen's iron chin is going to get tested to its limits.... For 4 rounds. Then it's going to be a challenge for him to see if he can stop Zhang. It's an all or nothing fight both ways despite Zhang being the far superior boxer. One thing that is worth noting, Allen thought he would outlast Price and Makhmudov by just having an iron chin and that didn't help him

ya i think some people overplay the whole idea that allen with just homer simpson guys like that. at that level they just dont have to work that hard because allen simply walks forward, not really putting much together. being able to keep things at your own pace is a huge boost for stamina

and zhang has been 12 multiple times anyway

[gilgamesh]

Allen's iron chin is going to get tested to its limits.... For 4 rounds. Then it's going to be a challenge for him to see if he can stop Zhang. It's an all or nothing fight both ways despite Zhang being the far superior boxer. One thing that is worth noting, Allen thought he would outlast Price and Makhmudov by just having an iron chin and that didn't help him

ya i think some people overplay the whole idea that allen with just homer simpson guys like that. at that level they just dont have to work that hard because allen simply walks forward, not really putting much together. being able to keep things at your own pace is a huge boost for stamina

and zhang has been 12 multiple times anyway

Plus Allen's attack is quite amateurish and predictable. Allen could potentially beat a Top 25, Top 30 kinda guy maybe. He'll get his ass thoroughly handed to him by Zhang. I honestly don't even look for him to be able to gas out Zhang. I think it's gonna be over in 5 or 6 rounds.

[Taansend]

If this fight isn't billed as "A to Z" or something of that ilk i will be bloody furious

[My T Sharp]

unstoppable force vs. immovable object

[gregregegg]

I like this. Zhang favorite but Dave wi try a definate chance.

Zhang will be 43 coming off an 18 month lay off and a loss. He has had fitness issues, weight issues, and body shot issues… so it could be a juicey time to get him.

I always like the left body rip and the overhand right vs a south paw so Dave will have some effective shots (if he can stay conscious).

Would have been nice to get Zhang on shorter notice… but still.

[golden_labrador]

Brain damage incoming.

I concur

[SeanBrennan]

Fair play to Dave Zhang might be old but he hits like a mule, if he survives 3 rounds he might wallop Zhang

[Taansend]

It's funny but by the time Zhang gets in the ring v Allen he would have only fought three times in three years since the 2nd Joyce fight - which seems A LOT longer ago than that.

[gilgamesh]

It's funny but by the time Zhang gets in the ring v Allen he would have only fought three times in three years since the 2nd Joyce fight - which seems A LOT longer ago than that.

Dave is gonna need a combination of the absolute best night of his life, and absolute worst night of Zhang's. So he better hope Father Time really took a baseball bat to Zhang's knees or something over the last little while.

And he always talks about he has issues taking it serious, and coming in top shape. He better damn well be serious for Zhang or he's gonna get his ass kicked. He might get his ass kicked no matter how serious he is and to be honest I suspect that'll be the case.

But as much as people love him. If he shows up in tip top shape, has some big moments, gets some shots in. The people will still come back for more if he wants more after Zhang.

[SeanBrennan]

He’ll turn up well over 18 stone as he always does. He refuses to do a full camp, claims he likes doing his fitness work at home which means he doesn’t do it, and brought on a nutritionist who he’s clearly ignoring. And his trainer is his mate and can’t control him as Dave won’t listen. It’s sad as he’s very talented.

I’d rather throw my support behind a Bilal Fawaz. He’s had to fight to:

Escape being a child slave
Be able to live here
Be able to box
And he’s still having to wait another 9 years to get a British passport. I’d take Dave’s off him and give it to Bilal.

Bilal has also lost his peak years as a pro due to them not letting him turn pro, yet he’s now late 30s, British champ, always in brilliant shape, and he still has 3 other jobs on top of boxing.

Fawaz shows what hard work leads to.
Dave just shows he can’t be bothered. He was the second heaviest he’d ever been in his last fight, after headlining a show where he couldn’t be bothered to get in shape for. I used to cheerlead it as I thought it was character. But it’s not is it, it’s nicking a living being lazy.

[Frostieballs]

He’ll turn up well over 18 stone as he always does. He refuses to do a full camp, claims he likes doing his fitness work at home which means he doesn’t do it, and brought on a nutritionist who he’s clearly ignoring. And his trainer is his mate and can’t control him as Dave won’t listen. It’s sad as he’s very talented.

I’d rather throw my support behind a Bilal Fawaz. He’s had to fight to:

Escape being a child slave
Be able to live here
Be able to box
And he’s still having to wait another 9 years to get a British passport. I’d take Dave’s off him and give it to Bilal.

Bilal has also lost his peak years as a pro due to them not letting him turn pro, yet he’s now late 30s, British champ, always in brilliant shape, and he still has 3 other jobs on top of boxing.

Fawaz shows what hard work leads to.
Dave just shows he can’t be bothered. He was the second heaviest he’d ever been in his last fight, after headlining a show where he couldn’t be bothered to get in shape for. I used to cheerlead it as I thought it was character. But it’s not is it, it’s nicking a living being lazy.

Not a fan then Sean :-)

[jameswilson]

I’m not quite as angry as Sean but if this fight does come off I do rack my brains how it can be justified. We go from life and death with a university rugby player to knocking the university rugby player out in the rematch, then getting a 12 round pounding from someone who’s World ranked, to then beating up a guy who looks like Jabba the Hutt and suddenly we’re back in with the guys knocking around the top 15-20. I’ve said before, is there no frigging middle ground? He should be going after TKV or fights that will force a British title fight.

Zhang’s conditioning issues are way overstated and Dave Allen’s ability to wear people down is likewise. You have to be Kabayel or better to wear Zhang down and even Kabayel got stuck on his arse en route to that victory. Deontay Wilder got stood on his head. Joe Joyce got stood on his head. Even the guys who beat him have to get off the floor (Parker and Hrgovic.) Dave Allen has worn two people down. Johnny Fisher. And Nick Webb. Makhmudov got similar treatment to Zhang against Kabayel and he still has his faculties in the last round while Dave was windmilling overhand rights in like a football hooligan going for the 12th round win.

Stay well away from Zhang for god sake.

[Controversial]

He’ll turn up well over 18 stone as he always does. He refuses to do a full camp, claims he likes doing his fitness work at home which means he doesn’t do it, and brought on a nutritionist who he’s clearly ignoring. And his trainer is his mate and can’t control him as Dave won’t listen. It’s sad as he’s very talented.

I’d rather throw my support behind a Bilal Fawaz. He’s had to fight to:

Escape being a child slave
Be able to live here
Be able to box
And he’s still having to wait another 9 years to get a British passport. I’d take Dave’s off him and give it to Bilal.

Bilal has also lost his peak years as a pro due to them not letting him turn pro, yet he’s now late 30s, British champ, always in brilliant shape, and he still has 3 other jobs on top of boxing.

Fawaz shows what hard work leads to.
Dave just shows he can’t be bothered. He was the second heaviest he’d ever been in his last fight, after headlining a show where he couldn’t be bothered to get in shape for. I used to cheerlead it as I thought it was character. But it’s not is it, it’s nicking a living being lazy.

I agree Sean, Dave is a character but he’s lazy and being given opportunities over and above what he’s achieved, which is beating an overated and limited Fisher. I hope he comes in having trained hard but my money is he will be overweight and comes off second best again.

[SeanBrennan]

He’ll turn up well over 18 stone as he always does. He refuses to do a full camp, claims he likes doing his fitness work at home which means he doesn’t do it, and brought on a nutritionist who he’s clearly ignoring. And his trainer is his mate and can’t control him as Dave won’t listen. It’s sad as he’s very talented.

I’d rather throw my support behind a Bilal Fawaz. He’s had to fight to:

Escape being a child slave
Be able to live here
Be able to box
And he’s still having to wait another 9 years to get a British passport. I’d take Dave’s off him and give it to Bilal.

Bilal has also lost his peak years as a pro due to them not letting him turn pro, yet he’s now late 30s, British champ, always in brilliant shape, and he still has 3 other jobs on top of boxing.

Fawaz shows what hard work leads to.
Dave just shows he can’t be bothered. He was the second heaviest he’d ever been in his last fight, after headlining a show where he couldn’t be bothered to get in shape for. I used to cheerlead it as I thought it was character. But it’s not is it, it’s nicking a living being lazy.

Not a fan then Sean :-)

I’m a massive fan. I want Dave to win a British and European title. I think he’s a super good human. I just know he’s a talent and he’s wasted it. It also irks me with the laziness. I fully recognise I sound harsher and that’s my issue as my health prognosis is not brilliant so I’m probably salty as I see someone with no real issues at all and he still can’t be arsed to put the work in. My lens is personal to me and irrelevant as I’m just a turd but I wish he faced some real hardship and realised how lucky he was. I’m currently working 12 hours a day and having radiotherapy and still training twice a day, so I have no sympathy for someone who spends more time on the couch than putting the work in.

[keithmoonhangover]

Please don't let this happen. Dave Allen is area level.

[SeanBrennan]

He’ll turn up well over 18 stone as he always does. He refuses to do a full camp, claims he likes doing his fitness work at home which means he doesn’t do it, and brought on a nutritionist who he’s clearly ignoring. And his trainer is his mate and can’t control him as Dave won’t listen. It’s sad as he’s very talented.

I’d rather throw my support behind a Bilal Fawaz. He’s had to fight to:

Escape being a child slave
Be able to live here
Be able to box
And he’s still having to wait another 9 years to get a British passport. I’d take Dave’s off him and give it to Bilal.

Bilal has also lost his peak years as a pro due to them not letting him turn pro, yet he’s now late 30s, British champ, always in brilliant shape, and he still has 3 other jobs on top of boxing.

Fawaz shows what hard work leads to.
Dave just shows he can’t be bothered. He was the second heaviest he’d ever been in his last fight, after headlining a show where he couldn’t be bothered to get in shape for. I used to cheerlead it as I thought it was character. But it’s not is it, it’s nicking a living being lazy.

I agree Sean, Dave is a character but he’s lazy and being given opportunities over and above what he’s achieved, which is beating an overated and limited Fisher. I hope he comes in having trained hard but my money is he will be overweight and comes off second best again.

Thanks mate I agree. And I’m not wishing that he turns up how I envisage and anticipate. He has real talent. I want everyone to achieve all that they can. I use can’t abide the “it’s just me” narrative to explain laziness. It also irks me that he speaks of hardship just cos his father was rubbish. Boo boo. I spent 10 years in and out of care, and I’m still beyond lucky. I was fed, educated and didn’t die. We really need to celebrate people like Bilal. The false narrative of plucky Dave does a disservice to people who really have faced hardship. Dave is stealing a living. We demean ourselves by legitimising this. He doesn’t deserve any platform.

[Controversial]

He’ll turn up well over 18 stone as he always does. He refuses to do a full camp, claims he likes doing his fitness work at home which means he doesn’t do it, and brought on a nutritionist who he’s clearly ignoring. And his trainer is his mate and can’t control him as Dave won’t listen. It’s sad as he’s very talented.

I’d rather throw my support behind a Bilal Fawaz. He’s had to fight to:

Escape being a child slave
Be able to live here
Be able to box
And he’s still having to wait another 9 years to get a British passport. I’d take Dave’s off him and give it to Bilal.

Bilal has also lost his peak years as a pro due to them not letting him turn pro, yet he’s now late 30s, British champ, always in brilliant shape, and he still has 3 other jobs on top of boxing.

Fawaz shows what hard work leads to.
Dave just shows he can’t be bothered. He was the second heaviest he’d ever been in his last fight, after headlining a show where he couldn’t be bothered to get in shape for. I used to cheerlead it as I thought it was character. But it’s not is it, it’s nicking a living being lazy.

I agree Sean, Dave is a character but he’s lazy and being given opportunities over and above what he’s achieved, which is beating an overated and limited Fisher. I hope he comes in having trained hard but my money is he will be overweight and comes off second best again.

Thanks mate I agree. And I’m not wishing that he turns up how I envisage and anticipate. He has real talent. I want everyone to achieve all that they can. I use can’t abide the “it’s just me” narrative to explain laziness. It also irks me that he speaks of hardship just cos his father was rubbish. Boo boo. I spent 10 years in and out of care, and I’m still beyond lucky. I was fed, educated and didn’t die. We really need to celebrate people like Bilal. The false narrative of plucky Dave does a disservice to people who really have faced hardship. Dave is stealing a living. We demean ourselves by legitimising this. He doesn’t deserve any platform.

I have to admit I had never heard of Bilal until I watched the fight last week. What a story he has, great character and a very good fighter who is in great shape considering he’s 37. So yes out the two he deserves a big pay day.

[Grilling Machine]

So he better hope Father Time really took a baseball bat to Zhang's knees or something over the last little while.

Yeah, Allen's an apprentice Homer to Joyce's master, so without Father Time smiling kindly I think this'll be the beating of his career.

[joshj909]

He’ll turn up well over 18 stone as he always does. He refuses to do a full camp, claims he likes doing his fitness work at home which means he doesn’t do it, and brought on a nutritionist who he’s clearly ignoring. And his trainer is his mate and can’t control him as Dave won’t listen. It’s sad as he’s very talented.

I’d rather throw my support behind a Bilal Fawaz. He’s had to fight to:

Escape being a child slave
Be able to live here
Be able to box
And he’s still having to wait another 9 years to get a British passport. I’d take Dave’s off him and give it to Bilal.

Bilal has also lost his peak years as a pro due to them not letting him turn pro, yet he’s now late 30s, British champ, always in brilliant shape, and he still has 3 other jobs on top of boxing.

Fawaz shows what hard work leads to.
Dave just shows he can’t be bothered. He was the second heaviest he’d ever been in his last fight, after headlining a show where he couldn’t be bothered to get in shape for. I used to cheerlead it as I thought it was character. But it’s not is it, it’s nicking a living being lazy.

I agree Sean, Dave is a character but he’s lazy and being given opportunities over and above what he’s achieved, which is beating an overated and limited Fisher. I hope he comes in having trained hard but my money is he will be overweight and comes off second best again.

Thanks mate I agree. And I’m not wishing that he turns up how I envisage and anticipate. He has real talent. I want everyone to achieve all that they can. I use can’t abide the “it’s just me” narrative to explain laziness. It also irks me that he speaks of hardship just cos his father was rubbish. Boo boo. I spent 10 years in and out of care, and I’m still beyond lucky. I was fed, educated and didn’t die. We really need to celebrate people like Bilal. The false narrative of plucky Dave does a disservice to people who really have faced hardship. Dave is stealing a living. We demean ourselves by legitimising this. He doesn’t deserve any platform.

I somewhat agree, but, to be the devil's advocate: Did people kick up this much of a fuss saying that others were stealing a living when top contenders face journeymen? When Makhmudov faced Ricardo Brown and Miljan Rovcanin? When David Price faced Kash Ali and Tom Little? When Frazer Clarke faced Dinu and Espíndola? When Zhang faced Scott Alexander and Craig Lewis?

In all those situations people will criticise the higher level boxers for taking an easy fight rather than complaining that the journeyman is getting another chance. Do people complain that Sokolowski got unlimited chances when he faced the big names? It's not Allen's fault that he has a following and people will pay to see him fight and he's not getting world title shots for free.

[SeanBrennan]

I agree Sean, Dave is a character but he’s lazy and being given opportunities over and above what he’s achieved, which is beating an overated and limited Fisher. I hope he comes in having trained hard but my money is he will be overweight and comes off second best again.

Thanks mate I agree. And I’m not wishing that he turns up how I envisage and anticipate. He has real talent. I want everyone to achieve all that they can. I use can’t abide the “it’s just me” narrative to explain laziness. It also irks me that he speaks of hardship just cos his father was rubbish. Boo boo. I spent 10 years in and out of care, and I’m still beyond lucky. I was fed, educated and didn’t die. We really need to celebrate people like Bilal. The false narrative of plucky Dave does a disservice to people who really have faced hardship. Dave is stealing a living. We demean ourselves by legitimising this. He doesn’t deserve any platform.

I somewhat agree, but, to be the devil's advocate: Did people kick up this much of a fuss saying that others were stealing a living when top contenders face journeymen? When Makhmudov faced Ricardo Brown and Miljan Rovcanin? When David Price faced Kash Ali and Tom Little? When Frazer Clarke faced Dinu and Espíndola? When Zhang faced Scott Alexander and Craig Lewis?

In all those situations people wil criticise the world level boxers for taking an easy fight rather than complaining that the journeyman is getting another chance. Do people complain that Sokolowski got unlimited chances when he faced the big names? It's not Allen's fault that he has a following and people will pay to see him fight.

And that is a very good point well made.