By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2024-12-15 17:08:43 | Updated at 2024-12-15 19:50:32
2 hours ago
"I don't want to live a life of regret," says Dave Allen. "I want to know how good I am."
Twelve years on from his professional debut in December 2012, the 32-year-old heavyweight is taking on one of his toughest challenges yet in highly-rated British prospect Johnny Fisher.
After a devastating loss to Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke in September 2023, it was tough to see what the future held for Allen.
But victory over Fisher, who has won all his 12 fights, on 21 December in Saudi Arabia - on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk's rematch with Tyson Fury - could revive the Yorkshireman's career again.
And not for the first time.
Allen has suffered defeats to top contenders like Dillian Whyte and Luis Ortiz, but upset Lucas Browne, who briefly held the WBA Regular title before failing a drug test.
"I fell short at the top level which I don't mind saying," he told BBC Sport. "I beat a former champion [in Browne] but he was past his best so I never knew how good I was.
"With Fisher I think the best version of me can beat this fella because he's only a baby."
With 31 fights under his belt, including 23 wins and six tough losses, Allen revealed what motivated him to carry on after starting his career with a six-round points win over Rolandas Cesna.
"It comes down to having no regrets," he added. "People talk about money and all the rest of it, but my life is alright, I'm sound, I don't need to box, I can go and do other things.
"My old man is 66, he used to be a boxer and I know he's riddled with regret.
"I didn't want to do that. I'd rather go and if I get beat then I know I wasn't good enough."
It can be extremely frustrating being a fan of the 'Doncaster De La Hoya'.
After knocking out the unbeaten Nick Webb in incredible fashion in 2018, optimism was on the rise for Allen, but a gruelling back-and-forth brawl with Ariel Bracamonte set expectations back despite picking up a stoppage victory.
Allen was full of criticism for that performance as he recalled: "That was awful. Another wake-up call - how many do I need?
"I was [tired] after one round. No excuses. I was not fit enough, not conditioned enough, I needed to take a good look at myself."
Allen even announced his retirement in 2020, citing problems with gambling and following a strict boxing lifestyle.
Six years on and he may finally be taking his own advice.
"This is the best training camp I've had by a long way," added Allen.
"When I got this opportunity I just thought, even if it's too late and a lot of people think it is, I'm not sure if it is even if I'm old - I've got miles on the clock.
"I know I'm only 32 but I've been in some hard fights. I thought, if I put 100% in when I come home [from training], I'll have no regrets. I'm proud of myself because I didn't think I could do it. The diet has been better than ever.
"Like I say, it's never 100%, I saw a Ferrero Rocher [chocolate] in the fridge the other week and I had it. It's as close to 100% as I can do, so I'm happy with myself."
'The White Rhino' comes into the bout in Riyadh off the back of two small hall wins against fighters with 39 losses between them.
Allen, who retired from the Clarke fight in the sixth round with a perforated eardrum, felt he "never turned up" in that contest, but insisted he was "really excited" to face 25-year-old Fisher.
"After the Frazer Clarke fight, I said if I was to go into another big fight then I would turn up with the expectation of winning," added Allen.
"I would give all the money back for that fight now just to erase it.
"It was just one of them days when I wasn't there. Preparation wasn't there, I never turned up. Mentally I wasn't there, I didn't really want to be there, same with the [David] Price fight [in 2019].
"I'm ready to fight now and I haven't felt like this since the Browne fight. When you have hard fights, it takes something from you every time. I've not wanted to be in a fight in probably six years.
"This is the first time that youthful exuberance is back in me. I'm really excited for it because I think we will see the best of me."
