Great post, mate. I really like Dave Allen. Listening to few episodes of the podcast he did, he struck me as a really funny genuine lad who was also emotionally vulnerable with susceptibility to depression. People want him so badly to do well because he’s so likeable and honest. Someone needs to step in and protect him from himself now. I don’t mean stop him from boxing, I just mean in terms of putting him in with fighters who are levels above him. There is no shame in trying and he’s done that a few times but enough is enough, he’s going to get hurt. He needs to stick to the domestic scene. I would absolutely love him to win the British and I really believe he could pick it up when the big prospects such as Hughie Fury, Joyce, Dubois have all moved on and a Sexton type level fighter picks it up. I know he sometimes jumps on the check hook forum so wouldn’t surprise me if he had a gander on here, too. So Dave, you’re a smashing lad. Step down to British level, keep those faculties because you’re gonna have a great book to write in a few years but you won’t be able to even hold a pencil if you keep jumping in with these world level lads. Fight a Cornish type next.
Great post m8, i share the exact same views on him. I also think he needs a new trainer as his current one clearly lacks authority with him. Look at the shape of him during fights against his 3 hardest opponents, Ortiz, Whyte and Yoka. It was shocking on all occasions, doesnt help him. He got fit for Thomas rematch but in 1st round you could see it was the same tactics that were used in 1st Thomas fight. Yes Dave has to take some blame for his condition during these fights but so does his trainer.
Dave Allen lacks the offensive skills and discipline to even be a British champion. He should fight at his own level and make a living as a sparring partner only, with only eurobum fights thrown in 2-3 times a year on undercards. He is now risking serious injury because there are only so many hellacious beatings that you can take. It’s always fighters like Allen that end up with problems.
He isn't doing anything much different to what most journeymen do, to be honest. He needs to win a few fights at area level again, go from there. If he's happy being a litmus test for prospects then so be it, it's a job that needs to be done
Either take the sport seriously or do something else. I have no time for guys like this and his fans who spout, 'he just needs to get in shape'. What!? He is a prizefighter, he is supposed to be in shape. I have the utmost respect for everyman he steps inside the ring, but you just can't take him seriously at all. The guy is just a clown.
Clown is too harsh but I saw an interview with him early 2017 after the ortiz fight i think it was where Allen was saying he was dieting down, sorting out his conditioning and going to take a steady progression of opponents. "Doing it the right way" was his words So now I'm at the point where unless I see it im not going to belive it.
He needs taking away somewhere on a solid 3 month camp. Proper nutrition, proper training and hard work and then come back and fight a DL Jones, AJ Carter, Darch, Lewison or Tom Little. Win and fight a Cornish/Sexton next. Progress like that.
We all know he was unlucky with the Thomas rematch going as it did and I get he just wanted to get out and fight hence the small show fight he had against Howe (I think). Also respect him for wanting to get in against Yoka but he was saying all the right things on Social media then turned up in that condition. Like everyone else has said Dave is at the point now where he needs to train properly and take it seriously as you can’t play at boxing. If he doesn’t want the hassle of training properly then stick to the podcasts and become a more likeable Fearon type.
i just don't think he's good enough at any level above area tbh. i really like him as a bloke, but i'm not sure i'd even fancy him against Cornish tbh.
Looked promising at one point. Was due to fight Richard Towers I think, which would have been the right sort of step up he needed at that point. Instead he rushed into Whyte/Ortiz fights and since then he's not been taken seriously and is just seen as a tough journeyman. Mis-management / Outside of the ring issues whatever it is, it's a shame to see