Dave Allen, aka “White Rhino,” produced a career-boosting knockout win over Johnny Fisher, but should be wary of being exploited by boxing’s circling sharks.
“I don’t really know what level Johnny [Fisher] is to be fair, or what level I am,” Allen (24-7-2, 19 KOs) admitted candidly following a fifth round TKO win over domestic heavyweight rival Johnny Fisher. The 33-year-old from Doncaster, United Kingdom, proudly displayed his new WBA Intercontinental heavyweight belt over his left shoulder — a maiden trinket following 13 bruising years in the paid ranks.
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His honesty post-fight didn’t come as a surprise. Allen has become known for breaking the fourth wall of the boxing business in the UK over the last decade. In doing so, he’s garnered somewhat of a cult following among a largely domestic fanbase.
That goes some way to explaining the mixed atmosphere inside London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday night as Allen and Fisher headlined Matchroom’s show on DAZN. The 26-year-old Fisher is well known as a ticket-seller in British boxing. But despite Fisher enjoying a lion’s share of the support inside the 7,500-seat venue, it was Allen who drew rapturous applause as the night came to a close.
This victory signals the start of yet another chapter in the Dave Allen book, building to a story that seemingly ran out of lines a few years ago. Allen “retired” in 2020, following struggles with gambling and his mental health. He struggled to cope with the highs and lows he experienced in 2019, including beating Lucas Browne in a headline event at London’s O2 Arena and then being bludgeoned by David Price just three months later.
But these contrasting performances have summed up the career of Allen ever since he turned pro in 2012. He’s been used as a yardstick to judge other heavyweights on the scene, and would usually suffer at their more talented hands. Luis Ortiz, Dillian Whyte, Lenroy Thomas, Tony Yoka, David Price and Frazer Clarke all teed off on the durable head of Allen across these losses. He’d then pad his record against a number of journeymen in the interim, as he recouped and recovered in between paydays.
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“I’ve been stitched up, broken my nose and perforated my eardrums,” he explained in 2021, before a run of small hall victories. “I probably took years off my life, and I still wouldn’t change it. I do still loving boxing as a sport in its purest form, but I hate the business side and the politics of it. I wasn’t smart because I was broke. I came from a council house. My mom and dad never had a car, we had nothing. I was offered figures that felt like millions of pounds but in hindsight were less than what I was worth. I didn’t care. For me thousands is enough, but now I realize what I missed out on.”
He has also taken plenty of punishment away from the bright lights of a fight night, sparring multiple rounds with heavyweight champions such as Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Wladimir Klitschko and Oleksandr Usyk to buffer his bank balance.
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That isn’t intended to denigrate the performances of Allen or to begrudge his opportunities, but whether he should continue taking this sort of punishment in such an unforgiving sport has been a frequent question within British boxing, well before his two meetings with Fisher. That shouldn’t change now.
Allen is as likable as they come, and he’s no doubt been exploited in the past for his entertaining personality and crippling self-confidence. Why overpay for an overseas heavyweight when you can underpay for Allen? And now, back in the winner’s circle, the sharks will once again start circling for a slice of the Doncaster fighter, as they deliberate who to throw him in with next.
Allen confirmed on his own YouTube channel that his win over Fisher on Saturday night has triggered a two-fight deal with Matchroom, something he has expressed happiness over, having worked with Eddie Hearn for a large portion of his career. He also expressed an interest in a meeting with Derek Chisora (36-13, 23 KOs), a man he looked up to as a younger fighter, or a shot at the British title.
But whatever is next for Allen, it shouldn’t come at the expense of his health. It’s possible he will be offered more money now than he ever has in his career, so it’s paramount his head isn’t turned by those who are eager to make a quick buck off his back.
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So far, the signs are good. With a family now in his corner, Allen seems at peace and less likely to be forced into rash decisions. After all, it’s the little things that really matter.
“This means everything to me. I’ve been written off so many times,” he explained as fans started filtering out of the east London venue. “You know what it means? The belt, everything, my kids. I’m gonna have an en suite. They’ll have their own bathroom between them.”
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