Until Oleksandr Usyk had the temerity to step up from cruiserweight and clean out the division, heavyweight boxing over the past decade had been dominated by three men.
Two-time champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua remain the great "what if" as fans in the UK live in hope that the two British big men will finally clash in 2026.
Deontay Wilder was the king across the water, knocking out all and sundry before coming out of his thrilling trilogy with Fury battered and bedraggled. Wilder and Joshua are each looking for comeback fights, while Fury's erstwhile promoter Frank Warren says the 'Gypsy King' will also return to the ring next year, to no one's particular surprise.
That places Saturday's bill-toppers in Sheffield, Dave Allen and Arslanbek Makhmudov, in an interesting position.
Popular British heavyweight Allen (24-7-2, 19 KOs) has reignited a rollercoaster career over the course of back-to-back fights with the previously unbeaten Johnny Fisher. Allen dropped Fisher in their first fight on the Fury vs. Usyk 2 undercard in Riyadh, only to be on the wrong end of a controversial split decision. The 'White Rhino' took the judges out of the equation in their London rematch in May, knocking out his rival and friend in showreel fashion.
Makhmudov boasts an enviable knockout compilation of his own. Nineteen of his 20 wins have come inside the distance, with 13 of those in round one. The 36-year-old Russian has dynamite in his gloves, but stoppage defeats to Agit Kabayal and Guido Vianello raised questions over his durability that are unlikely to be answered satisfactorily at this stage in his career.
Reports have suggested Makhmudov will rubber-stamp a fight with Joshua if he can defeat Allen, who in turn has been touted as a future opponent for Wilder. Either would arguably be a sellable foe for a comebacking Fury. As such, opportunity knocks at the Utilita Arena.
Matchroom Boxing/Mark Robinson
Dave Allen vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov full card results
- Dave Allen vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov; Heavyweights
- Junaid Bostan vs. Bilal Fawaz for the English super welterweight title
- Josh Padley vs. Reece Bellotti; Super Featherweights
- Hamza Uddin def. Paul Roberts (TKO 5/10) to win the vacant English Flyweight title
- Ibraheem Sulaimaan def. James Chereji (PTS 8); Super Featherweights
- Conner Tudsbury def. Khalid Graidia (TKO 4/6); Light Heavyweights
- Joe Hayden def. Angelo Dragone; Welterweights
- Joe Howarth def. Kane Baker (PTS 6); Lightweights
Dave Allen vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov start time
- Date: Saturday, October 11
- Start time: 7 p.m. BST
- Main event start time (approx.): 10:30 p.m. BST
- Location: Utilita Arena - Sheffield
Dave Allen vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov tune-in info
- Stream: DAZN
Dave Allen vs. Arslanbek Makhmudovn will be available on DAZN.
In the UK, a DAZN monthly subscription costs £9.99 on a 12-month contract or £19.99 month-to-month. An annual subscription is £99.99.