Dave Allen has warned Dillian Whyte he needs to be ready for 12 hard rounds when they clash for the vacant WBC International Heavyweight title at the Frist Direct Arena in Leeds on July 30, live on Sky Sports.
Allen took the clash with Whyte at three weeks’ notice but the Doncaster man is not concerned about a lack of fitness – saying that he’s the naturally fitter man and it’s the Brixton banger that needs to make sure he’s grafted in the gym in order to stay with the pace Allen will set.
“Dillian can have all the time in the world to prepare but it doesn’t matter,” said Allen. “I come from a track and field and football background – I am a fit man. No Heavyweight in the country bar Joshua can me match me for fitness.
“If Dillian is World class and can do 12 rounds at a pace, I’m up against it – he’s bigger than me, stronger than me, punches harder than me and is probably a better boxer, but if he can’t do 12 rounds at a pace then I am going to beat him.
“I’m not the biggest guy in the world but he’s got to be able to do 12 three minute rounds with me because I am not going to go anywhere. Say what you want about me, I’ll be in his face for 12 rounds at a pace – and Dillian is bang in trouble if he cannot do that.
“I’m not a Floyd Mayweather – I haven’t got the fancy tricks, I will be putting it all on the line, heart and soul balls to the walls for 12 rounds at a high pace – it’s going to be a hard, hard for both of us. I’m going to let my hands go but I’m not a fancy dan, it’s going to be a rough and tough war, and he needs to be ready.”
Allen dismissed concerns that the short notice could cost him on the night as he enters his first fight under new trainer Dominic Ingle.
“People are saying it’s come too soon and that I’m not ready for this, but when an opportunity comes along, you have to take it,” said Allen.
“For the first time in my life I’m starting to be professional, I’ve been ticking over in the gym and I’ve had a couple of weeks to get myself into the best condition possible. I’ve been ticking over in the gym and living the right life for a pro fighter, eating right, running lots and getting my weight right.
“Three weeks is a long time for me – that’s not been on my mind. Maybe it’s an advantage to him but mentally I’ve never wanted something so bad in my life. I’m in good shape, I’ve got my sparring in and this is too big to pass up because who knows when something like this will turn up again? I could say no and spend 18 months doing four-rounders at the Doncaster Dome. You have to grasp it with both hands.”
Allen’s clash with Whyte is part of a huge night of action in Leeds where Josh Warrington defends his WBC International Featherweight title against Patrick Hyland.
Luke Campbell MBE faces his toughest test in the paid ranks to date in the shape of former World champion Argenis Mendez, Huddersfield man Tyrone Nurse defends his British Super Lightweight title in an all-Yorkshire affair with Hull’s Tommy Coyle, Barnsley’s Josh Wale gets a shot at the Commonwealth Super-Bantamweight title against Birmingham’s unbeaten starlet Gamal Yafai and classy Belfast man Ryan Burnett defends his WBC International Bantamweight title.
Tickets are on sale now priced at £30, £40, £60 and £100 available from the First Direct Arena at www.firstdirectarena.comand on 0844 248 1585. VIP tickets priced at £150 are available exclusively from Matchroom Boxing at www.matchroomboxing.com.
Tickets for July 30 are also available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ – StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing.
