The Sheffield Arena fight that heaped ridicule on boxing

David Allen says he has learned from a boxing match which heaped embarrassment to the sport.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Mar 2016, 20:03 BST
Updated 2nd Apr 2016, 00:21 BST
David Allen v Jason Gavern, a fight not to rememberDavid Allen v Jason Gavern, a fight not to remember
David Allen v Jason Gavern, a fight not to remember

His fourth-round victory over American Jason Gavern at Sheffield Arena was screened all over the world - with his opponent making himself a laughing stock.

Allen said: “It was crazy. I’d like to think that wasn’t any of my doing. I wanted to fight, came to fight. But I got the win, and we move on. In some ways it was a great experience. I learned to keep my cool.

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“It is a good name to have on my record, but other than that it was pretty much a waste of time.”

The Conisbrough man said the American kept taunting him with abusive language. He kept saying: ‘Let’s go, bitch.’ I got two dead legs. I got hit in the legs more than the face. He wrestled me on the floor, it was madness. It was a rugby tackle.

“Richard Towers would have been a good fight, but Jason came to spoil. He’s got his money, gone home to Florida and hopefully we won’t see him in the UK again.

“The fight I am looking for is David Price. I have had 10 professional fights. He can beat me ... it’s a warm-up fight for him, surely?”

David Allen v Jason Gavern, a fight not to rememberDavid Allen v Jason Gavern, a fight not to remember
David Allen v Jason Gavern, a fight not to remember

Gavern had only five days’ notice before the fight.

He has been in with Lucas Browne, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua, and added: “If you give me a steady camp, I beat him 10 out of 10 times,” he claimed.