Joshua vs Molina: Dave Allen confident he can upset Luis Ortiz in Manchester next weekend
Friday 2 December 2016 18:01, UK
Dave Allen has vowed to make Luis Ortiz "look like an old man" when they clash in Manchester next weekend.
The heavyweights meet on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's IBF heavyweight title defence against Eric Molina in Manchester on December 10, the same night British rivals Dereck Chisora and Dillian Whyte also go head to head for the British belt.
Allen (9-1-1-KO6) is stinging from his first loss as a professional, which came when he was on the wrong end of a points decision against Whyte in July, and he is keen to get back on a winning thread as soon as possible.
But Ortiz will enter the ring with a perfect 26-0 record, although 'King Kong' was unable to secure a 23rd knockout victory when he was frustrated by Malik Scott in Monaco last month before winning on the cards.
"Luis Ortiz is an old man and I'm going to make him look like an old man in there," said Allen.
"When he hits me, I'm going to stand there and smile at him. This is the fight that will catapult my career on the world scene.
"My sparring tells me that I have the ability to become world class, now this my time to go out there and show the world what I can do.
"I was waiting for the David Price fight but this is an even bigger opportunity and I've got absolutely nothing to lose in this. This is just another day for me, like a man going in to the office for the day. There is no nerves, yes there is excitement and anticipation.
"I respect Luis. Many people look at the Malik Scott fight and are judging him on that but I'm not. I look at the Bryant Jennings fight, the Tony Thompson fight, where he has been destroying opponents.
"Easy fights don't do anything for me. I've made this opportunity myself pretty much like the Dillian Whyte fight. It's giving me big exposure in the UK and it's being talked about in America.
"I showed I have a good defence against Dillian, so I will be prepared for anything. I said to myself I would only fight the end of the year if it was against Price, but this fight is even bigger so I couldn't say no. I'm going to put it all on the line against him. I'm going to stick it on him early, smack him bang on the chin and see how it goes."
As well as the mouthwatering heavyweight hat-trick at the Manchester Arena, Scott Quigg returns to action against Jose Cayetano for the vacant WBA international featherweight title.
Kal Yafai can become Birmingham's first world champion when he faces WBA super-flyweight champion Luis Concepcion.
Irish amateur sensation Katie Taylor boxes for the second time in the paid ranks against Viviane Obenauf, Callum Smith defends his British super-middleweight title against Luke Blackledge and Hosea Burton will defend his British light-heavyweight title against Frank Buglioni.
Watch Luis Ortiz v David Allen on the undercard of Joshua v Molina, on December 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book the event online here.
