Dave Allen has volunteered to be the opponent for Tyson Fury’s tune-up fight ahead of the former champion’s showdown with Anthony Joshua later this year.
Fury is set to box long-time rival Joshua in late 2026. But with Joshua making a comeback fight in July, Fury could have his own warm-up in the summer.
No opponent has been decided for that tune-up but Allen, the popular Doncaster heavyweight, has offered his services for that fight.
He hopes his fight on Saturday against Filip Hrgovic will put himself in the frame for that Fury fight.
“If I beat Hrgovic, Tyson Fury will be called out,” Allen said Sky Sports. “100 percent
“Even if I lose to Hrgovic but fight well, I want the Fury fight.”
However, Hrgovic could well be another grueling match in Allen’s career. In October, the Doncaster man suffered a punishing 12-round loss to Arslanbek Makhmudov, who Fury beat on his return to boxing last month.
“I’ll do what I can, but it’s going to be hard work,” Allen said of Hrgovic. “Another Olympic medalist, the fourth Olympic medalist I’ve faced in my career. I’ve boxed everybody.
“I’m buzzing about it, I’m excited about it, I’m not under pressure. All the pressure is on Filip. I just have to go out there, do my best, do my best and that’s enough.”
Allen also suspects Hrgovic is looking past him for a potential matchup with Moses Itauma.
Itauma will next play in August, and if Hrgovic comes through his fight with Allen victorious and unscathed, he could get that fight.
“He could be there. We’ll make our decision next week who it’s going to be,” promoter Frank Warren said Sky Sports.
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Moses Itauma delivers ‘beautiful’ knockout to stop Jermaine Franklin in round five of their fight at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena. Images courtesy of X @DAZN
“[Against Allen] Stepping into the other man’s backyard, Filip Hrgovic is determined to show he should be in this mix with a big, big fight. It’s so on, it’s so electric, this heavyweight division. There are so many good matches to be made, and they are all fighting to get into contention for the big matches.”
Allen maintains that he can be upset. “I’ve sold the tickets just so he can come over here and knock me out for a couple of rounds and call Itauma out – I know the script. But I’ve been training hard and I really think I can give anybody a fight. I’ll hopefully prove that on Saturday,” Allen said.
“I actually think Filip Hrgovic will be in for a really big surprise. I think he’ll be surprised by my speed and my skills. Even though I’m not as tough as people think, I’m definitely a lot better than people think.”
Wardley-Dubois ‘terrifying’
Allen won’t be taking inspiration from last weekend’s epic heavyweight fight between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois, quite the opposite in fact.
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Daniel Dubois stopped Fabio Wardley in the eleventh round of an incredible heavyweight fight and became a two-time world champion. Match highlights courtesy of DAZN
“I hope my game isn’t as good on Saturday. It was scary,” Allen said. “I think it was one of the best fights I’ve ever seen through five or six rounds. But it wasn’t really that competitive. Daniel’s jab is the difference.
“His jab hurts more than his right hand because he sparred him. His left hand is incredible. It was a great fight through six, then it was a bit uncomfortable to watch from then on.
“It was like 10 games in one. Daniel Dubois was just out on him. He’s such a tough Wardley,” Allen continued.
“If I got a good hiding like that, I don’t think I’d box again. I don’t think I’d leave the house again!”