Eddie Hearn says there’s a life-changing shot waiting for Dave “White Rhino” Allen — but first, he’s got to walk through a giant. Allen faces the fearsome Arslanbek Makhmudov on October 11 at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, live worldwide on DAZN. Win that, and a meeting with former WBC king Deontay Wilder could be next.
The Sheffield show is close to sold out, and Hearn reckons Allen is a win away from flipping his career on its head. Makhmudov (20-1, 19 KOs) is a 6’6” wrecking ball who’s shared the ring with Agit Kabayel, Carlos Takam and Mariusz Wach. Allen? He’s the fan-favourite Cinderella man who’s rebuilt quietly and now finds himself at a make-or-break moment.
Hearn Says Wilder Talks Have Already Started
“If Dave Allen beats Makhmudov, he puts himself in line for some huge fights,” Hearn said on Matchroom’s Flash Knockdown podcast.
“I like the Deontay Wilder fight, personally. We’ve reached out to Shelly Finkel [Wilder’s manager] to talk about that, but let’s see what happens on October 11 first.”
Hearn expects a wild Steel City atmosphere to push Allen to his limits.
“It’s going to be a packed-out Utilita Arena,” he said. “It’s a massive night for Dave and, if he wins, he’ll waltz straight into the biggest fight of his career.”
Sheffield Crowd Could Lift Allen to Career-Changing Upset
Tickets are nearly gone via matchroomboxing.com. The fight streams live on DAZN worldwide.
Allen’s got guts and a chin but this is a brutal step up. Makhmudov isn’t the polished killer some think, but he’s huge, hits like a truck, and doesn’t mind a tear-up. Allen’s best hope? Survive early, drag the big man late, and nick it when the gas tank empties.
But if he does somehow pull it off, a Wilder fight is insane money and exposure — the sort of thing that changes a journeyman-turned-folk-hero into a headliner again. Hearn’s smart dangling it: dangle the carrot, fill the arena, sell DAZN subs. Just don’t kid yourself — this is dangerous work for the White Rhino.
Hearn always talking big but most times it never turns out how he says 😑 Promoters always selling dreams to fans while fighters get smashed.
True bro 👏 Hearn talk more than any boxer I seen! Always setting up hype trains that crash hard.
Yup Hearn care more about filling arenas than actual fighter safety or fairness in matchups 🙄
I believe in Dave but he gotta be smart 🔥 He can’t just go swinging wild or he’ll walk into something nasty from that big dude! Fight smart or don’t fight!
Everyone keeps saying ‘if’ Dave wins…but they forgetting how dangerous Makhmudov really is 😬 This ain’t just another fight – it’s risking his health for hype.
People acting like Dave Allen is some kind of Rocky Balboa 😂 he ain’t never beat no top fighters! This ain’t a movie – Makhmudov is gonna flatten him quick.
I don’t think Wilder would even take a fight with someone like Allen unless there’s something in it for him 🤑 Wilder wants big names not some UK journeyman.
I think if Allen makes it past four rounds he got a real shot 🤔. Big guys like Makhmudov get tired easy cause they use too much power early on.
‘Cept that assumes Allen can even survive that long! He ain’t fought no one like this before – not even close!
‘Yeah but sometimes them smaller fighters just keep coming forward and wear out them muscle guys 😤🔥.
They just hyping this up to sell tickets and DAZN subscriptions 📺💸. Ain’t no way Allen beating that big dude unless they fixing fights now or something. It’s all about the money.
Exactly! They setting Allen up to take a beating, then say ‘oh well he tried.’ He gets paid and Hearn gets paid too, everybody happy but the fans who believe in fair fights.
That’s how boxing is now sadly 😒. It’s not who deserves it, it’s who sells more tickets and hype. I don’t trust promoters at all anymore.
I don’t get why people think Dave Allen even got a chance. Makhmudov is too big and strong, it’s just common sense. Allen’s gonna get hurt bad and then what? No Wilder fight, no nothing.
But maybe Allen got more heart than people give him credit for. Sometimes heart beats size 💪. Look at boxing history. Upsets happen all the time when the underdog wants it more.