David Allen refuses to see himself as the underdog against Johnny Fisher.
The two heavyweights fight on Saturday’s Riyadh Season bill headlined by Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Fisher, the “Romford Bull,” is a popular rising heavyweight and the unbeaten favourite going into this fight.
Doncaster’s Allen is a veteran of punishing fights. However he told Sky Sports: “I think experience is a factor. But I’m better than him. Genuinely. To a lot of people that sounds absurd because they’ve seen me out of shape.
“Johnny Fisher is very self-aware and very clever. The people around him are saying he’s better than he is. He’s good but he’s not great.”
Allen has had a sparring session with Fisher, and believes that will prey on his opponent’s mind.
“I think he will be nervous because we sparred and I got the better of him. He’s seen me for years on the TV, he’s kind of looked up to me. I’ve been in that position,” Allen said. “There a lot of me v David Price in this fight.
“When I boxed Price, I’m a David Price fan and I’m boxing David Price, it hit me a little bit.”
But Allen revealed too that he would be “terrified” himself.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Dave Allen relives the moment he fell in love with football, reminisces about a Manchester United No. 2 and explains why Martin Keown will not be on his Christmas card list Download and listen to The Football Museum podcast now.
“I’ve boxed really good fighters, but not once did I think: ‘He’s going to knock me down or out.’ It never crossed my mind. This one there’s a touch of: if he hits me, I’m going to go over,” Allen said.
“So it’s really switched me on. The thought of me being on some highlight reel is terrifying. I’ve trained really hard. Mainly for that reason.”
Allen declared: “I’m not a liar. It’s not mind games. I’m going to come have a go at him, he’s going to come have a go at me. That’s fine. I’m quicker, I was a very good amateur.
“I’m going to treat it like a three three-minute rounds boxing contest. I’m going to win all three rounds and there’s every chance I walk him onto something and knock him out. That’s how I’m treating this fight.
“I’m just going to outbox him for three rounds and if I outbox him I’ll walk him onto something… And if goes past three, we’ll make it an old-school four-round amateur fight.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Johnny Nelson looks back at the first encounter between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury
Fisher though hit back, telling Sky Sports: “If I’m not nervous, there’s something wrong.”
But he added: “I’m not nervous from the spar. I was 19 when it happened and it was just a spar. Nothing happened in that spar untoward. I didn’t go down, I didn’t get dropped and I proved to myself that day I could be a professional boxer because I can take punishment and keep moving forward.
“I’m prepared for any eventuality. I can box and I can punch as well. So if he wants to throw the kitchen sink at it from round one, that might be his only option, we’ll see.
“He can make it a three-round fight. That will be amazing because then it’s a tear-up from the beginning. And I love a tear-up.”
Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury’s huge heavyweight rematch will be live on Saturday December 21 on Sky Sports Box Office. Book Usyk v Fury 2 now!
