Dave Allen refuses to quit despite Arslanbek Makhmudov defeat

Dave Allen was staring an inevitable defeat in the face when he was given an easier way out.

Other than a brief surge at the end of the ninth round, he had failed to make a dent in Arslanbek Makhmudov. Allen, 33, had expected the giant Russian to start fast before fading but only the first half of his prediction had been correct. Instead, the 6ft 6in Bond villain-esque heavyweight was still standing - and still landing - as he cruised towards victory.

And so when Allen was offered a quick exit, the 33-year-old might previously have grabbed it with both gloves. But he had promised this time would be different. Unlike against David Price and Frazer Clarke when he had run for the exit, Allen dragged himself out for more punishment. "I felt like I had a chance of winning until the 10th round," he said. "I was done after 10.

"My corner wanted to pull me out but I did that in the Clarke fight and the Price fight and I wasn't going to do it again. Too many people in the arena paid good money for tickets. At that point I was f***ed. I'd been hit too much and I was knackered but I wanted to get to the end and go out swinging."

Allen had stuck to his game plan in the early rounds and allowed Makhmudov to walk him down. But by the halfway point it was clear the visitor was not about to wilt. Allen had the 9,000-strong crowd on their feet with three rounds to go when he finally let his hands go.

But Makhmudov refused to succumb and ultimately won a lop-sided points decision which would have been wider had he not twice been deducted a point for repeated holding. "The top and bottom of it is I'm not good enough," admitted Allen, who suffered his eighth career defeat. "He was too big and too good. I've never been hit like that in my life.

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"He's in the top 20 in the world and I'm not. It's as simple as that. I just wasn't good enough. I'm not finished. Maybe a British title... but I'm not done." Makhmudov, who broke his hand in victory, immediately set his sights on an unlikely clash with Anthony Joshua.

The former two-time world champion is due to return the ring either late this year or early in 2026. And Makhmudov wants Joshua to stay true to his word after he apparently agreed to a meeting. "Anthony Joshua, I come for you," he said. "We spoke already, and he gave me his word. You're going to fight with me next year. I'm ready."