Dave Allen expects a rematch between himself and fellow heavyweight Johnny Fisher could happen “pretty soon”.
Allen and Fisher were involved in an entertaining battle on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury II in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December. Fisher, 25, was heavily favored by many to breeze through his opponent long after Allen was considered in decline.
Allen then unexpectedly outboxed the inexperienced Fisher for the majority of their contest and even dropped him in the fifth round. Many observers believed Allen deserved to have his hand raised after 10 rounds, but the judges saw it differently and awarded Fisher victory.
“Everyone was writing me off but I knew that he’d been boxing five minutes – well not five minutes but you know what I mean – and I’d been boxing forever, [winning] national amateur titles and stuff,” he told Sky Sports News. “I knew it was a fight that if I got in the gym for a bit I should beat him.
“As for the decision, I don’t make the decision, the judges do. I have to respect their opinions. I’ve watched the fight back since, I thought I deserved the decision but I didn’t get it, we move on, and hopefully it happens again. I thought I won it but I think we might put it right pretty soon.
“I believe [the fight will happen soon]. After the fight I said if Johnny Fisher wants to do it we’ll do it. But I understand if they want to go elsewhere. I’ve had a few defeats. I’ll box anyone in the world, it’s not a concern to me; I’ll fight at any given time.”
In the event of a rematch, Allen believes that he would defeat Fisher.
“I think it’s the wrong fight for him but realistically where else does he go?” he said.” He can go and fight someone else and get beat anyway; his ceiling has been shown now. He’s been beaten by me in lots of peoples eyes – someone who hasn’t boxed for years. He’s got to put that right if he’s going to continue on his trajectory to the top or wherever they perceive him to be going – he has to beat me. I honestly think the rematch, if and when it happens, will only go one way.”
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