Justice is served. “The White Rhino” exacted revenge over “The Romford Bull” in their highly-anticipated heavyweight rematch in London on May 17, live on DAZN.
Doncaster’s Dave Allen (24-7-2, 19 KOs) stopped 26-year-old rising prospect Johnny Fisher (13-1, 11 KOs) in the fifth round of their rematch at the Copper Box Arena.
After 33 fights and 13 years in the professional ranks, “The White Rhino” finally lifted a title for the first time in his storied career.
The 33-year-old also referred to as “The Doncaster De La Hoya”, ripped the WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title away from Essex’s Fisher with a conclusive fifth-round KO.
The Matcroom Boxing event was titled ‘The Inquest’, as there were questions raised after their first fight in December, on the Fury-Usyk 2 card, ended in controversy after Fisher was awarded the split decision result at ringside despite being dropped and dominated.
Fisher looked exhausted from as early as the second round, knocked down in the fifth, and staggered around the ring for the majority of the contest, yet still had his hand raised at the end, which angered a lot of fight fans leading to the immediate rematch.
This time, Allen did not leave the decision in the hands of the judges, swinging away with his signature overhand right from the first round. Fisher sensibly kept Allen at a distance during the opener, using his longer levers and rangy jab to paw at Allen, but the more aggressive fighter still managed to get through the leaky guard with stinging jabs.
The older, more experienced Allen consistently walked Fisher down, because he had so much success with that tactic last time, so he kept the pressure and the intensity turned up high, making the younger man work hard.
Fisher landed a big uppercut in the third round that drew a reaction from the partisan crowd. Allen had around 80 fans in the venue, but the rest was made up from Essex.
Referee Marcus McDonnell had to talk to the pair a few times to keep the fight clean. Fisher landed another big right uppercut at the end of the third.
In the fourth round, the heavyweights fought toe-to-toe in a phone booth. Fisher just couldn’t keep advancing Allen away despite trying to use his longer reach.
Johnny landed a big right hook to the body of Allen in the fifth, so went in with another. Then he rather lazily pawed with his lead left, leaving it just hanging there in the face of Allen, wo “The White Rhino” charged with a huge overhand right, taking full advantage of the open guard. The bruising blow landed on Fisher’s left side of the head and it buckled the Romford man’s legs, but he shook his head to dismiss any damage, as he skipped away, but he was visibly hurt and shaken.
Allen sensed this and moved in for the kill. He landed a huge left hook to the body, then edged in close to land another overhand right, which sent the prospect crashing to the canvas. Then, Allen closed the show in dramatic fashion, landing three huge left hooks, the final one icing out Fisher cold. It was a clinical finish. Fisher slumped to the floor as the bell for end of the fifth round rung. Trainer Mark Tibbs threw in the towel at the same time, knowing his heavyweight charge was all done.
Promoter Eddie Hearn immediately dismissed the idea of a trilogy decider next, “You got beaten by the better fighter with more experience. I can see the trilogy one day, but not next, in my opinion. He wasn’t good enough in that fight tonight. Therefore, you don’t want to – having been knocked out like that, the inexperience of Johnny Fisher – just automatically go back into number three.”
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