Allen vs Makhmudov Predictions: ‘White Rhino’ gets rare and deserved top billing

Dave Allen gets a chance to stake his claim as the leader of Britain’s congested heavyweight scene on Saturday, October 11, when he takes on Arslanbek Makhmudov. ‘The Doncaster De La Hoya’ tops the bill at Sheffield Arena with the entire card streaming live on DAZN.

Here are my Allen vs Makhmudov predictions ahead of this heavyweight bust-up.

Allen vs Makhmudov Odds

Allen is the underdog at 1/1, but it is close. A year ago if you told people the 'White Rhino' would be even-money to beat Makhmudov, who starts at 5/6, few would have believed you. The draw, unlikely with these two big-banging behemoths, is 22/1.

Allen vs Makhmudov Fight Preview

“There isn’t really too much to lose. Apart from my consciousness”. A typically honest Dave Allen assessing this test when speaking to me a month ago. It is that self-effacing honesty and willingness to take on any challenge that has made the Doncaster man a hit with British fight fans.

In an era where everyone is worried about how their record looks on BoxRec and battles are fought on social media as often as they are in the ring, it is easy to trot out the cliches for Allen. A breath of fresh air. A throwback. The everyman. But how else would you describe a man like the ‘White Rhino’?

This is someone who has fought Dillian Whyte, Luis Ortiz, Tony Yoka, Lucas Browne, David Price, Frazer Clarke and Johnny Fisher. A record that speaks of a man allergic to avoiding a tough opponent. 24-7-2 does not glisten like the ledger of a protected boxer. Instead, it carries the endearing scar tissue of a man who has seen it all in his 13-year professional career.

Allen is headlining a sold-out arena not because he is a former or future world champion. But because he has connected in a way few fighters do. 

The dogged spirit that made Frank Bruno more popular than Lennox Lewis comes to mind. It is part of the English sporting psyche to prefer exertion and resilience over effortless ease. 

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are both former unified heavyweight champions, but fans took to Fury’s comeback story more than Joshua’s Olympic gloss, even when AJ rebuilt from defeat. The public wants blood, not marble.

Nobody could accuse Allen of being chiselled out of any such substance. He is forged in the fire and rolled in the dirt. A proper warrior for an improper time. When boxing’s political machinations eat as many column inches as the bouts themselves, Allen has thrived because he is a big bloke who wants a scrap.

And boy has he found one. Makhmudov is 6’5 of Russian meat. A devastating puncher, 19 of his 20 victories have come by knockout. There was a time not long ago when the resident of Canada was tipped as a future heavyweight champion. But a meeting with a world class German put paid to that plan.

Agit Kabayel came to Saudi Arabia being told that Makhmudov had too much power for him. That the Russian knockout artist would put the fists that had rendered 12 first-round stoppages in just 18 fights would put a swift end to his ambitions. In the eyes of far too many, Makhmudov just had to turn up.

But Kabayel was not the man his doubters thought he was. The Leverkusen man dispatched Makhmudov in four rounds. Shockwaves were sent as the division crowned a new danger man. To the surprise of many, it was not to be Makhmudov carrying that unofficial crown.

The rebuild featured the Russian swatting Miljan Rovcanin, himself a three-round Kabayel victim, in two sessions. But then unfancied Italian Guido Vianello scored an eighth-round upset over Makhmudov via doctor stoppage to knock the train off the rails.

The warning signs were there. ‘The Gladiator’ from Rome had given highly-ranked contender Efe Ajagba a torrid time over 10 in his last fight. Vianello controversially lost that outing by split decision. So the rugged 31-year-old simply did not wait for the cards against Arslanbek. He took his man out in impressive fashion to become a surprising factor at heavyweight.