British heavyweight Dave Allen, 34, is not exactly thriving in the gym as he heads towards the final stage of his long and punishing career.
Allen, set to fight Thomas Carty on September 5 on the huge Katie Taylor-Flora Pili event at Croke Park in Ireland, is set to engage in a four-round warm-up bout with Dan Garber Saturday in Doncaster.
The affable Briton, 26-9-2 (20 KOs), was stopped in three rounds by Filip Hrgovic in May, seven months after being decisioned by Arslanbek Makhmudov over 12 rounds.
Allen – son of 1980s welterweight of the same name – is a popular figure on social media, his searing honesty setting him apart from many boxers. However, his form in his biggest fights has drawn criticism due to the chances he continues to secure.
This week he admitted that his latest training came has been “terrible. Terrible, really.”
“I’m not a lover of exercise. The older I get, the less I love it as well,” Allen told TalkSport.
“Every day’s a bit of a slog. I’ve been doing a lot of training with my old man.
“The older I get, the more patient we become, I think. So me and my dad have been doing some training together.
“I know that I’m near the end now. A couple of fights left at the most, so I’m just trying to enjoy it really, make some more memories and try and get my dad more involved.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s a big opportunity for me to get back to the big stage another time, another chance for me.
“So, I must be the luckiest man in British boxing, but I’m kind of taking it with both hands.”
