‘If my son grows up to be half the man Johnny Fisher is, I’ll be a happy man’

Johnny Fisher and Dave Allen have agreed to put their friendship aside and promised an all-action contest on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury II in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Allen was once one of British boxing’s most popular fighters, stepping up to face all-comers with little training in his younger years. Allen seemed a promising heavyweight at one stage, but he only rarely took the sport seriously, and a stoppage defeat to David Price in 2019 saw him return to the small hall scene – after a post-fight visit to the hospital.

Now seemingly focused, the Doncaster fighter has teamed up with trainers Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis ahead of facing Johnny Fisher.

“This is a dream come true for myself,” said Allen. “On a personal note, I’ve got into career-best shape, I was given a fantastic opportunity and it’s one I plan to take with both hands.”

Allen was asked if Fisher, a relative boxing novice, should be nervous ahead of facing him, he replied: “He should be, I am, we both should be – it’s a huge occasion, it’s a huge fight.”

Allen and Fisher have become friends since sharing the ring with each other in sparring many years ago, but Allen does not think it will be a problem on fight night. 

“Johnny Fisher is a good friend,” he said. “I’ve got a son, if he grows up to be half the man Johnny Fisher is then I’d be a happy man. This is not personal, this is sport. I’m very confident that I’ll do the job, that’s not really my character, but I’ve worked really hard and it’s time to finally fulfil my potential.”

Fisher also agreed that their friendship would not get in the way of a great contest.

“He’s a good friend, but there is no friends in that boxing ring on Saturday night, we’re going to be trading leather,” said Fisher. “I’m sure I’ll shake his hand before and after but whilst we’re in that ring, we are enemies.”

Fisher, or ‘The Romford Bull’ as he is also known, has impressed with his fan-friendly style in his short professional career. Fisher expects another entertaining fight when he and Allen meet on Saturday.

“I would expect nothing less from Dave Allen ‘The White Rhino’ to be ready to go,” he continued. “We’ve had 12 weeks, but I’ve been training for longer than that – I’ve been training for four long years. Now this is my time to show people what I can do.

“There is a possibility of some carnage that’s for sure. A rhinoceros and a bull in the same ring – it will be fireworks. I’m not going to take a backwards step and I’m sure he won’t. Winning is all that matters.”

A long-time sparring partner of Fury, Allen was also involved in helping Usyk prepare for Derick Chisora, and was asked for his prediction for the main event.

“The two best heavyweights of my generation, I’ve shared the ring with both many times,” he responded. “I’m a huge fan of both; everyone knows the regard I hold them both in. I personally foresee a Fury win, but these two are the greatest heavyweights of my time. I’m so fortunate to witness it here in person and hopefully it can be half as good as last time.”