In a battle of flawed English heavyweights, Johnny Fisher climbed off the floor to edge a controversial split decision over veteran Dave Allen on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
It seemed as though Allen’s veteran moves and experience, plus a fifth-round knockdown, would be enough. But that is not how boxing works, and Fisher won on two cards by 95-94, with a third judge picking Allen as the winner by 96-93.
Fisher, “The Romford Bull,” improved to 13-0 (11 KOs) but has so much work to do.
Doncaster’s clearly dejected and disbelieving Allen is now 23-7-2 (18 KOs).
Unsurprisingly, Fisher started aggressively.
Allen, typically, stood firm and tried. In the second, Fisher applied a little more pressure, but he was treating his former sparring partner with respect.
Allen, the 32-year-old Yorkshireman, had won two bouts this year, winning four-rounders against opponents with records of 2-25 and 8-14.
Before that, he had been stopped in six by Frazer Clarke.
Allen, however, was looking sturdy. He didn’t blink when Fisher tossed a couple of right uppercuts at him in the second.
Fisher, having blitzed his past two opponents in a round each, was exchanging on the inside in the fourth, but it was dull until then.
Allen found a home for a big right in the fourth, though, and after Allen landed a couple of shots behind the head in the fifth, “The White Rhino” cracked Fisher with a left hook that felled the favorite.
Fisher never really recovered in the round, with Allen bashing him with both hands.
Fisher was badly shaken, and although he fought back, Allen slammed another left hook into his chops. Allen seemed to have punched himself out, and Fisher was on unsteady legs.
“He’s gone, he’s gone as well,” trainer Mark Tibbs shouted at Fisher in the corner.
It was getting increasingly fun for the spectators. Fisher was again clipped by a left hand, and again he was hurt, and often it was Fisher getting damaged when switching off on the inside or failing to protect himself when Allen wanted to carry on working inside.
Fisher’s legs again betrayed him in the seventh, but he bit down and fought back, not just trying to match Allen but trying to end the fight with one blow.
Allen, however, was hurling in the overhand rights and short hooks and uppercuts that were continuously taking a toll and putting rounds in the bank.
Fisher had a good eighth. He was certainly busier.
Allen’s coach, Jamie Moore, tried to rally him in the corner. “This is what you are fucking born for!” Moore screamed.
Neither boxer seemed to have much fire in their shots in the ninth, but Fisher was hanging tough at the end of the session.
They both dug in for the 10th and final round, Fisher again did more, and the old friends and former sparring partners embraced at the bell.
Allen had overdelivered, but the judges had not.
Read the full article here
