Dave Allen tells Dillian Whyte to wait until October for British battle
Wednesday 6 July 2016 10:16, UK
Dave Allen says Dillian Whyte must wait until October to settle their war of words and believes he could enjoy an 'easy night' of victory.
The British heavyweights have been trading insults in recent months and Whyte issued a fresh challenge this week, urging the Yorkshireman to face him on the Josh Warrington-Patrick Hyland bill in Leeds on July 30, live on Sky Sports.
But Allen insists he would be foolish to accept a short-notice fight against Whyte, who produced a sixth-round stoppage of Ivica Bacurin on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's win over Dominic Breazeale at The O2 last weekend.
The Doncaster boxer revealed that an alternative date in Sheffield has already been discussed and feels the domestic showdown will attract a far bigger audience in three months' time.
"I'm not going to fight Dillian Whyte on three weeks' notice when he's been preparing for the last 10 or 11 weeks for the O2 show. He will have to fight me in October," Allen told Sky Sports.
"Of course I considered it. If it was up to me, I would take it. Obviously it's a fight I want. Would I beat Dillian Whyte in the shape I'm in right now? No, absolutely I wouldn't. I'm going to be 100 per cent on top of my game.
"You only get one real chance to win a fight like that. I'm not stupid, I'm not going to listen to people saying I'm ducking this or that.
"If it happens in Sheffield, half of Doncaster turns up, and that's what (promoter) Eddie Hearn wants. I would half sell out Sheffield Arena for the Whyte fight.
"Me and Dillian are the most interesting characters in British heavyweight boxing. In 10 weeks' time, it will be the must-see fight of 2016, by the time me and him are finished."
Allen resisted the temptation to criticise Whyte's workmanlike win on his return from a shoulder injury, although the 24-year-old did suggest he could inflict a convincing defeat on the Brixton fighter, if given more time to prepare with new trainer Dominic Ingle.
"Eventually Dillian caught up with him and took him out. I wouldn't say I was impressed, but I didn't think it was a disappointing performance," said Allen, who is planning a warm-up fight in late August or early September.
I do believe I will beat him and believe I could make an easy night of it, but I wouldn't beat him on three weeks' notice.
"Everyone knows what Dillian is - he's a big strong man, he's tough, and he can punch. I believe I'm a big strong man who can punch as well.
"I do believe I will beat him and believe I could make an easy night of it, but I wouldn't beat him on three weeks' notice. I've got no shame in saying that.
"If the fight happens in October, 100 per cent I beat him, but I'm not ready to fight someone of that calibre in three weeks."
Antonio Tarver, the former light-heavyweight world champion, has also called out Whyte and the prospect of the 47-year-old American fighting in this country has drawn a mocking response from Allen.
"The man is like 70 years old and he needs to go back to making Rocky films or whatever he was doing," said Allen.
"Real-life fighting is not for a man of his age now. If Dillian does end up fighting the likes of Tarver, people are going to laugh him out of the place, because it's a joke.
"I'm a Tarver fan, from 10 years ago, not the present day Tarver. He's a tragic man, not a 'Magic Man'."
