Dave Allen honest after Makhmudov defeat in Sheffield – ‘I’m Just Not Good Enough’

As heavyweight Dave Allen looked out to the remains of the 9,000 crowd he had drawn to the Sheffield Arena, disbelief, regret and gratitude swirling in his bright brown eyes. He was asked about the fight and responded in the only way he knows how; truthfully. “I’m just not good enough.”

His cheeks and forehead were discoloured by the dozens of right-hand power shots Russian contender Arslanbek Makhmudov had slammed into them, but he remained unbowed, if sad that defeat had visited him once again.

Dave Allen comes up short in October 11 slugfest

It is a testament to his heart and durability that he was able to absorb the shots he did and a reflection of his enduring likeability that so many gathered to see him try and leap toward world level. With a record now improved to 21-2 (19), Makhmudov is widely believed to be next in line for Anthony Joshua as and when the former champion returns in 2026.

If he does get the big shot at Joshua, Makhmudov presents a relatively static target who is susceptible to body shots – he lurched sideways the first time Allen landed, he doesn’t like a fast-paced fight his career suggest and is a sucker for an over-hand right too. All of which Joshua may be able to deliver with greater power and authority than Allen could summon tonight.

Despite the decline and advancing years, Joshua would still be fresher and faster, and I’m inclined to believe a knockout win entirely plausible. It would be an eye-catching outcome given Makhmudov’s aesthetic and dimension but wouldn’t be without risk after a long lay-off and the weight carried in Makhmudov’s own simple repertoire.

Allen had good moments having adopted a fight plan which seemed to consider Makhmudov a 3-round fighter. In that sense, the Allen camp felt he often tired, particularly in a busy fight, and could be overwhelmed during the later rounds. There was evidence to support the tactics, but Allen was unable to execute the offensive part of the plan with sufficient regularity to force a breakthrough.

There were opportunities created, mainly by his openings to the body – which Makhmudov clearly didn’t enjoy – but not always capitalised on. The conclusion being Dave Allen lacked the footwork or confidence to do so, or the big right hands Makhmudov landed from the outside were sufficiently discouraging that the self-styled Doncaster De La Hoya couldn’t execute on his own power shots.

The rounds mounted against Dave Allen

A left to the body followed by an uppercut and right hand at the end of the 5^th probably Dave Allen’s brightest moment. Point deductions for excessive holding in the 6^th and 11^th round narrowed the scores but in truth, it was difficult to find rounds Allen won. The three judges scored 115-111, 116-110 and 117-109 which are all perfectly feasible scores. As an observer for Big Fight Weekend, a score of 10 rounds to 2, with two-point deductions against Makhmudov, conjured a similar 116-110.

Allen was adamant he would fight on, but important to remember his fluctuating motivation and the fact that he deliberately selected Makhmudov, a potent foe, to scare himself. There is no certainty he will summon the same desire to train if the rewards and risk are so much lower. Allen falls to 24-8-2 (19ko) and while a crowd will be drawn when he fights again, it now seems inescapable that domestic titles are the Doncaster man’s limit.

As the pundits at ringside relayed, there is no shame in that.