Tag Archives: dave

Posted on 04/19/2019

By: Ste Rowen

Another weekend, another fight-night at the O2 Arena. On Saturday night, the ‘White Rhino’, Dave Allen steps into the ring with Lucas ‘Big Daddy’ Browne; whilst Dereck Chisora returns to face Senad Gashi in the co-main event.

Browne’s last significant bout was his brutal KO loss to Dillian Whyte in which the Australian looked well out of his depth compared to the man who defeated Ruslan Chagaev in Russia to claim the WBA ‘Regular’ title back in 2016; so depending on which version of Lucas turns up, it’s could be a big step up for fan-favourite, Allen.

‘‘It feels like every boxing fan has taken me in as one of their own. They feel like they’re watching their friend in there.’’ The ‘Rhino’ told a packed-out press-conference. ‘‘I watched the Bracamonte fight back and thought if I carrying on fighting like this I’m not gonna end up in the greatest way.
I’m gonna beat Lucas Browne, I know I am. Me and Darren Barker haven’t been training for hours every day for nothing…The ability is there, I’ve been letting myself down, but I can fight.’’

Allen, 16-4-2 (13KOs) reignited his career nine months ago when he knocked out Nick Webb in four rounds, a victory that came just one month after Dave was stopped in the 10th round by Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka. As mentioned, he’s been training with Darren Barker and the hope is that the Brit will come with a new style from his usual ‘take 2 to land 1’ tactics.

Lucas Browne, 28-1 (24KOs) has fought three times since his 6th vicious loss to Dillian Whyte last year, most recently a keep busy six-rounder with Kamil Sokolowski in March where the Australian was down briefly in the 2nd. But Browne is eager to put past demons to bed,

‘‘Obviously the last time out at the O2 wasn’t my day whatsoever so I’m looking to rectify that…There’s nothing bad to say about Dave Allen; handshakes and all that but once the bell goes we’re gonna punch the shit out of each other.’’

Before 2018, Browne was still seen as a lower ranked contender with reasonable power. If he’s able to regain that momentum he had before his failed drugs test, which lost him the minor belt, it could turn into a fight of the month contender.

The other heavyweight matchup on Saturday’s card sees Dereck ‘Del Boy’ Chisora up against Kosovan-born German, Senad Gashi. The two were on the same card last December when Chisora was stopped late on by Dillian Whyte. Gashi was also stopped, in the 7th by Carlos Takam.

The crazy career of Chisora, 29-9 (21KOs) means that he could be a fight or two from the big-time fight nights again, and the former world title challenger is well aware of the situation,

‘‘Big fights are available. The big 4 at the top don’t wanna fight each other so what can you say? I sit at the bottom of the scrap; I’ll just take them.
The O2 brings a load of great memories and disappointing moments. One minute your jumping up on the ropes, the next you’re under them…I’m motivated, if he comes to fight we’ll fight.’’

His opponent, Senad Gashi was stopped by Takam last year, an opponent Chisora brutally knocked out on the Whyte vs. Parker undercard in 2018. Gashi, 17-2 (17KOs) has also faced and lost via disqualification to future Tyson Fury opponent, Tom Schwarz, where the 28-year-old was DQ’d in round six but tried to continue the fight with Schwarz after the referee had made it clear the bout was over. If he allows that kind of indiscipline to take over again, he could be facing his 3rd loss in 4 bouts. But, Senad seemed in high spirits on Thursday when he spoke,

‘‘I took the Takam fight on seven days’ notice, but I had to take my chance…I can definitely win against Chisora. I’ve visualised this fight many times in my head, I’ve fought in my head 10 times against Chisora, 9 times I won, 1 time I got disqualified.’’

Both heavyweight fights are setup as gateway matchups to bigger things, and just maybe, a fight with each other.

Posted on 10/25/2017

By: Ste Rowen

Despite the late change of opponent, the biggest draw on Saturday night remains the main event, with Anthony Joshua taking on Carlos Takam for the WBA, IBF and IBO Heavyweight World title belts. However, hidden gems may lie in the undercard.

Photo Credit: Esther Lin/Showtime

Yafai v Ishida

Chief support to Joshua’s bout sees WBA Super Flyweight Champion Khalid Yafai take on Sho Ishida in his second title defence. Kal (22-0-0 14KOs) won the vacant WBA belt back in December 2016 from Luis Concepcion, who’d come in over the limit in two attempts at the scales, meaning the only Yafai could win the belt. Then in May this year Kal got his first defence in the bank when he dominated Suguru Muranaka. Yafai was mightily impressive in both bouts, scoring legitimately wide scorecards. He’ll be hoping that this is the stepping stone fight to being included on HBO’s ‘SuperFly 2’ in early 2018. His opponent Sho Ishida’s record is good on paper, 24-0-0 (13KOs) however that does include six debutants including his last two bouts in which Ishida stopped first timers Patiphon Saithonggym and Phetnamnung Sisaketphattana in rounds three and two respectively. This will also be Sho’s first fight outside of Japan, he’ll be hoping to upset the Brit’s party and join his countryman, Naoyo Inoue at the top table of the Superfly division.

Whyte v Helenius

Dillian Whyte (21-1-0 16KOs) is looking to turn up the heat on the current Heavyweight belt holders when he goes up against Robert Helenius. In his most recent outing Whyte made quick work of Malcolm Tann on the undercard of Crawford v Indongo in Nebraska. Though sloppy at times, he made sure his keep-busy fight didn’t last long, dropping Tann for a third time with a body shot in the third round. A stark contrast from his split decision win previous to that, when he fought in a Fight of the Year contender, going all twelve in a heavyweight war against Dereck Chisora. His opponent, Robert Helenius (25-1-0 16KOs) was once the man to beat in the European Heavyweight scene. A sparring partner of Anthony Joshua’s leading up to the Klitschko fight, Helenius was racking up victories including a controversial decision over Chisora in 2011 and knocking out an unbeaten Gregory Tony in 2010. His steady rise took a big hit in 2016 though when he was knocked clean out by a big 1-2 from Johann Duhaupas. He’s on a three-fight win streak and will be looking to take Whyte’s status as a number one contender for the belts.

Sanchez v Taylor

Katie Taylor (6-0-0 4KOs) fights for her first world title in just her seventh fight when she takes on Anahi Esther Sanchez for the WBA Lightweight belt. It will be Taylor’s second schedule ten round fight, in her second stadium fight, and the omens are good because in that ten-rounder at Wembley Stadium last April, Taylor continued to show her class when she dispatched of unbeaten Nina Meinke in the seventh. In her one fight since, the Irishwoman beat up Jasmine Clarkson for three rounds before the American’s cornerman pulled her out. Anahi Esther Sanchez, as expected should represent Taylor’s biggest challenge yet. Sanchez (17-2-0 9KOs) has previously held a world title when she won the IBF Super Featherweight belt in March 2016. She’s also fought and lost twice in world title fights. Once in December 2016 via a unanimous decision to Nina Wahlstrom for the WBC Super Feather title and again in May this year, when she was given two standing counts and eventually stopped in the fourth for her old IBF title. She bounced back quickly, and in her second fight at the 135lb limit, stopped Cecilia Sofia Mena for the WBA belt, that will be on the line this Saturday.

Dave Allen

Cult hero Dave ‘White Rhino’ Allen (12-3-1 9KOs) was looking to exact revenge on Commonwealth Champion, Lenroy Thomas when the two were set to meet for the second time on Saturday night for an immediate rematch of their May 2017 split decision. However, the Jamaican has pulled out due to a virus. Allen is expected to remain on the undercard in a six round keep busy fight before going again for the British and Commonwealth belts.

Buglioni v Richards

Another late change to Saturday’s card sees British Light Heavyweight Champion, Frank ‘Wise Guy’ Buglioni take on Craig ‘Spider’ Richards. Buglioni (20-2-1 15KOs) was due to fight Callum Johnson in a mandated bout but Johnson withdrew last week, leaving the door open for Craig Richards (9-0-0 3KOs), who has been campaigning mainly at Super Middleweight up to this point.

The Olympians

Three of Matchroom’s 2016 Olympic signings will also be on the card. Cruiserweight Lawrence Okolie (5-0-0 4KOs), taken the distance for the first time in his last fight with Blaise Mendouo. Super Featherweight and Welshman Joe Cordina (4-0-0 4KOs) fighting in Wales for the first time in his pro career. And Light Heavyweight Joshua Buatsi (2-0-0 2KOs) a bronze medallist in Rio, and arguably Britain’s most highly thought of from the class of 2016.

Posted on 12/20/2016

What’s Next for Shannon Briggs?
By: Iftisaam Khan

Having suffered a number of setbacks in his career of late, Shannon ‘The Cannon’ Briggs will be certainly looking to put that all behind him as he aims to return to the ring next year. Reflecting on a year of bad luck, the American will be rather disappointed at his inactivity in the ring as he was overlooked on numerous occasions due to a number of reasons.

Looking for an opponent initially saw the 45-year-old focus his efforts on securing a bout with Heavyweight rival, David Haye which eventually came to no avail. Chasing the fight saw ‘The Cannon’ go around the country gate-crashing press conferences and media events to call out the Londoner but his efforts eventually turned futile. At times the prospect of thefight being made actually looked promising with Briggs featuring on the undercard of Haye’s fight, but it turned out that was the closest the American was going to get to Haye as he overlooked the American and weeks later announced his next fight against Tony Bellew in 2017.

If his luck couldn’t get any worse, his hopes of attaining a heavyweight title this year weredashed after his opposed fight with Australian, Lucas Browne was cancelled after his opponent was found to have had taken banned substance, Ostarine leaving the former world champion looking at the coming year for a change of luck.With the Heavyweight scene currently thriving there won’t be a shortage of options.

Dilian Whyte

One potential opponent in the new year could be the ‘Body Snatcher’ who will be looking to take as much time off from the ring as possible given his superb performance against Derick Chisora in a fight being touted as fight of the year. The possibilities of seeing Briggs and Whyte share the ring next year are unlikely with Eddie Hearn hoping for a rematch instead between Whyte and Chisorainstead.

Luis Ortiz

A more realistic possibility could see the ‘Cannon’ take on fellow compatriot and friend, Luis Ortiz who recently overcame a brave Dave Allen in Manchester; stopping him in the 7th round. A fight between the pair would make sense for both parties but time will tell.

Dave Allen

A fighter who’s known for his willingness to share the ring with anybody, the ‘White Rhino’would be a great option as a step up of opposition for Briggs who will be looking to ease his way back in the heavyweight scene.

David Price

Looking to resurrect his career is Liverpudlian, David Price. The fighter will be looking to make everyone forget about his 3 defeats to Tony Thompson and ErkanTepen which came as a big shock to the boxing world as at the time Price was touted for special things in the division. Time is on his side to establish his career again but another slip up cannot be afforded.

A logical fight for both parties, Briggs would provide a stern test for the scouser who is aiming for a shot at World Champion, Anthony Joshuain the near future.