Dave Allen has earned a headline slot in his hometown, but the opponent waiting for him may cut that run short. The Doncaster heavyweight is set to face Filip Hrgovic on May 16 at the Eco-Power Stadium, a booking that arrives at the peak of his recent rebuild rather than the start of it.
Hrgovic has basically become the “British Heavyweight Grim Reaper” lately. After a tough TKO loss to Daniel Dubois in 2024, he bounced back by systematically breaking down Joe Joyce and David Adeleye in 2025. He is doing it with a high output and a chin that seems to be made of granite, which is historically a nightmare style for Allen.
Allen’s resurgence is genuine. Avenging that controversial first fight with Johnny Fisher by stopping him in the fifth round last May was a huge statement. He has shown he still has that “Doncaster De La Hoya” grit, but there is a massive gulf between a domestic rival like Fisher and a top 15 world contender like Hrgovic.
It is a massive risk for Dave Allen, especially considering how he has looked when stepping up to that elite level in the past. While the narrative of a stadium main event in Doncaster is a dream for any local fighter, Filip Hrgovic is a brutal choice for a homecoming dance.
Allen tends to soak up a lot of punishment to find his opening. Hrgovic is a volume puncher who doesn’t fade, meaning Allen could be in for a long, painful night if he can’t find a way to hurt the Croat early.
Promoter Frank Warren leaned into the scale of the occasion, pointing to the home setting and the demand from local fans, while Allen spoke about finally getting the kind of night he has chased throughout his career.
The trade-off is clear. Allen gets his moment in Doncaster, but it comes against an opponent who has been used as a measuring point for contenders rather than a step toward them. The opportunity is real, but so is the ceiling attached to it. Allen is being used as a measuring stick. If he wins, it is the upset of the decade in British boxing.
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Last Updated on 2026/03/27 at 5:11 PM
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