This sporting weekend is all about underdog stories.
For example: Can the Timberwolves push back the Spurs in the NBA playoffs? Can the Hearts end the 40-year run of either Celtic or Rangers winning the Scottish Premiership? And most importantly, can Lithuania gain more than a handful of points at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with Lion Ceccah’s version of “Sólo quiero más”?
Advertisement
But maybe above all of these: Can heavyweight cult hero David Allen lay a glove on Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic?
The affable Allen will tell you he can do more than that. “On my day, I am better than Filip Hrgovic,” he’s promised reporters this week ahead of his home heavyweight duel in Doncaster, England. But how much does he — and anyone traveling to the Keepmoat Stadium — really believe that?
Let’s dissect Saturday’s “David-vs.-Goliath” fight, along with everything else swirling around the boxing world this weekend.
1. Allen moves from Cinderella Man to David vs. Goliath
There is a chance we are running out of fictitious comparisons in the career of David Allen.
Advertisement
The English heavyweight has amassed a pro record of 25-8-2 (20 KOs) across a 14-year career of being boxing’s “everyman” — one that has seen the Doncaster fighter grow a cult following on British shores, facilitating the 34-year-old to be thrown into fights well above his level.
He’s taken pummeling at the hands of Dillian Whyte, Tony Yoka, Luis Ortiz, David Price, Frazer Clarke and, most recently, Arslanbek Makhmudov in a bout titled “Cinderella Man,” which again leaned on the underdog story of Allen.
He lost that fight, convincingly. His reward? Another roll of the dice against an even better fighter: Filip Hrgovic. This one is being dubbed “David vs. Goliath.”
No one can claim Dave Allen is scared of a good challenge.
(Mark Robinson via Getty Images)
Allen told the BBC this week that his promoter, Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, texted him while he was on holiday simply asking whether he would prefer to fight Hrgovic or Zhilei Zhang. A real Sophie’s Choice for Allen, who opted against Zhang, who he describes as the “biggest puncher in the division,” and accepted former Olympic bronze medalist Hrgovic, whose only career loss has come at the hands of Daniel Dubois.
Advertisement
It’s another huge task for Allen. And perhaps a poetic one. He’s fighting on home soil inside Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium in what could well turn out to be one of the final chapters of his bizarre boxing story.
2. Davis and Albright run it back in Norfolk
Top Rank is diving head-first into DAZN waters for the first time this weekend, offering up a curious, if not pulsating rematch between Keyshawn Davis and Nahir Albright.
If you don’t remember what happened between these two back in 2023, here’s a quick explainer in under 100 characters: Keyshawn Davis was seemingly high as a kite and fumbled his way to a shoddy majority decision win.
Advertisement
That decision was sharply overturned to a no-contest after Davis tested positive for marijuana and question marks over how seriously he was taking his career hung heavy over his head.
But we don’t judge over here at Uncrowned. Work is hard and sometimes you need that little something to take the edge off (he writes, swirling a second red wine of the evening).
Davis has notched up nothing but wins since, but losing his world title on the scales and finding himself in the middle of a backstage brawl with Saturday’s opponent, Albright, have added fuel to the complex fire that surrounds Davis’ career.
A convincing win in Davis’ hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday will go some way in repairing the damage caused, but the U.S. Olympic silver medalist is going to have to find a way of keeping himself out of the headlines for the wrong reasons if he is to reach his potential.
Advertisement
3. Donovan looks to put Crocker behind him in Germany
Paddy Donovan had the world at his feet until walking straight into Lewis Crocker.
The flashy Irishman lost to Crocker via disqualification and split decision over two controversial fights in 2025, stunting his growth in the talented and lucrative welterweight division.
So, instead of keeping things simple on Matchroom cards, Donovan has been forced to take a risk on foreign soil this Friday night, traveling to Mannheim, Germany, to fight Karen Chukhadzhian in an IBF title eliminator.
Chukhadzhian — famed for two losses against Jaron “Boots” Ennis — is on a two-fight win streak at 147 pounds and is well travelled at age 30, but is nonetheless faced with a slippery operator in Donovan inside the SAP Arena.
Advertisement
Donovan has admitted it’s “sink or swim” against the favorite Chukhadzhian. But a win will get him back in line for a world title shot, facing the winner of the Australian-staged fight of Liam Paro vs. … guess who? Lewis Crocker.
Paddy Donovan finds himself in dire need of a win this weekend against Karen Chukhadzhian.
(Ramsey Cardy via Getty Images)
4. Gonzalez refuses to give up on his world title dreams
Speaking of fighters determined to win world titles, Israel Gonzalez is attempting to force his way into a fifth world title opportunity this weekend.
The 29-year-old Mexican is 31-5-2 (12 KOs) in a checkered career that has seen him lose on the biggest stage to the likes of Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, Roman Gonzalez, Kal Yafai and Jerwin Ancajas — all for versions of the flyweight or super flyweight world championships.
Advertisement
He’s back in action in Los Cabos, Mexico, this Saturday night, taking on Armando Appel Garcia for the WBC silver title at super flyweight.
A win will boost “Jiga’s” standing in the WBC’s rankings — along with his lofty positions with both the WBA and WBO — and could see the shopworn contender try his hand at a fifth shot at world honors.
5. WBC strawweight title is on the line in South Africa
We have a hardcore boxing fan’s dream on Saturday, as we head to Kempton Park, South Africa, for a rematch for the WBC title at strawweight.
Now, if you are planning to cancel any family plans to watch this 105-pound contest between champion Melvin Jerusalem and challenger Siyakholwa Kuse, perhaps don’t lead with the fact that you can find Irish wolfhounds that weigh more than these pint-sized punchers. Just explain that it’s a world title fight, and a cracker at that!
Advertisement
Both men have three defeats on their records — pretty common down in the lower weight classes — but that’s all they have in common.
Jerusalem is 10 years the senior of the southpaw South African challenger and finds himself in a rematch with Kuse after a controversial loss last October. Jerusalem was well below his best in retaining his WBC title in Quezon City, Philippines, yet still was handed favorable scorecards against Kuse in an entertaining 12-round scrap.
Jerusalem’s potential unification bout with Oscar Collazo fell out the bed, so why not give Kuse — and the fans — what they want in this excellent rematch?
Read the full article here
