Dave Allen has suggested who Anthony Joshua might fight on his long-overdue return.
‘The White Rhino’ has a huge fight this weekend when he takes on Arslanbek Makhmudov. The Russian stands 6ft 51⁄2in and though he has 19 KO wins from 20 victories overall, he has also lost twice by TKO.
The first one came back in 2023 when he was stopped by Agit Kabayel, and the second was in August 2024 when he was bested by Guido Vianello.,
Allen is in a fine run of form that has seen him most recently stop Johnny Fisher, having also claimed knockouts over Lucas Browne and Nick Webb earlier in his career.
Allen has fought 33 times himself, with 24 wins and seven losses, but the majority of those defeats coming to top-level fighters such as Luis Ortiz and Dillian Whyte.
He has admitted in the past he has never fully applied himself to training, but for this fight with Makhmudov he looks in terrific shape and has been told that if he wins, he could go on to get some huge fights.
In the meantime and speaking to Seconds Out, Allen has revealed some inside information on ‘AJ’s return.
“I think if he returns next year, I think he will box Makhmudov if Makhmudov beats me. But if I win, I don’t think I’ll box Joshua … That’s what I hear, I’m just trying tog give you a scoop.”
Joshua is a former two-time unified world heavyweight champion but has not had a belt since the first of two losses to Oleksandr Usyk back in 2021.
He lost again in the rematch and then rebuilt with four solid wins before taking on Daniel Dubois last September for the IBF title. That fight ended in a knockout loss inside five rounds and he has not fought since while recovering from elbow surgery, though could well get back to world title level soon.
