Dave Allen drama dominates weekend of South Yorkshire boxing
Saturday's drama isn't the way the Doncaster man would have wanted his penultimate fight to have ended
Nobody could have predicted what was about to happen at Dublin's historic Croke Park.
South Yorkshire's Dave Allen was tussling in the ring with Irish opponent Thomas Carty, with 80,000-plus watching the chief support to Katie Taylor v Flora Pili.
They exchanged just 82 seconds of blows before one from Allen landed on the back of Carty's head – and the extraordinary events that followed left both fighters and a huge crowd stunned.
The home fighter instinctively put one hand on his head rather than trying to prevent himself plunging under the top rope, landing heavily in the area reserved for photographers.
Carty, who was given an oxygen mask, was stunned - and so was Allen.
Nobody had seen that coming. And it was several minutes before the Irishman could get back to his feet and shuffle back to the dressing room.
Meanwhile, Allen, brow furrowed, continued to declare his amazement at what had happened.
The Conisbrough man left the ring before the announcer informed the crowd the fight had been stopped on a doctor's advice and ruled a no-contest.
Allen, 34, clearly unhappy and confused, matched the mood of the public in the stadium and millions watching around the world.
It brought to mind the odd moment when Sheffield's Liam Cameron propelled Ben Whittaker out of the ring in 2024.
Both events were impossible to have foreseen. And Saturday's drama isn't the way the Doncaster man would have wanted his penultimate fight to have ended.
But after recovering his composure, he posted: "I’ve had some bizarre moments in my career but this might top it, hope Thomas Carty is healthy and well and Dublin has a KFC!
"Life’s too short for arguing and back and forth, Thomas is a good man what’s gone has gone."
While Allen, who looked heavy around the waist, was having an early night, closer to home there was plenty of action which did go the distance.
Connan Murray went 10 tight rounds with fellow Yorkshireman Dom Hunt at Rotherham's Magna Centre, winning the Central Area super welterweight belt, nipping the decision by 95-94.
Jason Cunningham-trained Murray said: "Life is about hard lines and to get what you want sometimes you need to dig deep and fight in the trenches.
"From silly mistakes in the heat of battle I went down twice but this meant so much to me and I wasn’t taking no for an answer! Rocky Balboa moment!
"One of my written goals this year was to win a professional boxing belt and I ticked that off the list."
Another Ryan Rhodes-managed fighter, Rianna Doforo, also went 10 rounds to secure the Central Area super featherweight strap.
Manor Boxing Academy's Samantha Lightfoot ensured she can take on Doncaster's Billy Jarmolinski at Doncaster Dome on November 7 for another Central Area duel, by winning every round against Kia Carter.
And Swallownest's Sonny Boy Price came back from four years away from boxing to beat Sheffield journeyman Owen Durnan over four rounds.
MAGNA RESULTS INCLUDE:
Connan Murray (previously) 13-2-0, Cusworth, beat Dom Hunt, 17-2-2, Wakefield, Central Area super welterweight
Rianna Doforo, 4-1-0, Liverpool, bt Chelsey Arnell, 6-3-1, Hull, Central Area super feather
Samantha Lightfoot, 3-0-0, Sheffield, v Kira Carter, 0-35-1, Leeds, bantam
Sonny Price, 10-0-0 Swallownest, bt Owen Durnan, 4-57-2 Sheffield, super light
Liam Carrigan, 2-0-0 Doncaster, bt Jake Osgood, 2-89-0, Carlisle, welter
Mohammed Subhaan, 12-1-0 Bradford/Ingle gym, bt Mark Butler 3-26-1, Brighton, light
Charlie Ellis, 2-0-0, Dinnington bt Naeem Ali 3-159-1, Blackburn, welter
Cory Sagar 6-0-0, Barnsley bt Jensen Irving, 6-38-2, Swindon, middle.