BRITISH boxing throws up an intriguing domestic heavyweight rematch this weekend that wouldn’t make a main card outside of the UK, but in London it’s a main event.

Both Johnny Fisher and Dave Allen aren’t even top 10 British heavyweights, but their popularity with the home boxing audience ensures they top the bill at the Copper Box on Saturday.

Back in December, Allen was brought in as a step-up opponent for unbeaten Fisher on the Usyk–Fury 2 undercard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

But the ‘White Rhino’ read the wrong lines from the script and not only dropped, but battered ‘The Romford Bull’ for most of the 10 rounds, only to be denied by abject scoring.

The controversial outcome ensured the fight got far more attention that it deserved, and now both men get to cash in with a lucrative rematch in the capital.

ROMFORD BULL

Fisher, 26, has got a big following, largely down to his effervescent personality and working-class demeanour.

University educated, he walked away from the rugby pitch to throw himself into the sweet science late in life and racked up a dozen quick wins – including 11 stoppages – to the tune of a vociferous fanbase.

He picked up the Southern Area heavyweight title in 2023 and could, realistically, one day fight for the Lord Lonsdale belt.

But British title aspirations will certainly be parked permanently if he comes up short against Allen (again).

WHITE RHINO

Six years ago, Dave Allen was the underdog homegrown heavyweight in the Matchroom stable, driving ticket sales, inundated with YouTube exposure, and billed as the working-class lad made good thanks to boxing.

Sound familiar?

Now 33, Allen – aka the ‘Doncaster De La Hoya’ – is in a third phase in his pro boxing career.

Once Eddie Hearn’s favourite unlikely heavyweight, he’s now an opponent for the next guy to carry that mantle.

During his time in the spotlight, Allen was a mainstay on PPV arena cards up and down the country. But his wheels came off when he stepped up against Olympic medalist David Price.

Since Allen, now 23-7-2, has returned to the small hall scene, stayed away from trademark wars, and returned to the habit of winning fights, albeit against picked opposition.

That was until Saudi at Christmas, when opportunity knocked against Fisher.

RIYADH RUCKUS

Minutes before Oleksandr Usyk retired Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Fisher looked good for four rounds. Too big, too long, too sharp, and too fresh for Allen, he was racking up the points.

But an Allen left hook, thrown from frustration after being hit with repeated low blows, dropped Fisher heavily onto all fours.

The younger man quickly unraveled, and while he beat the count, he was left shipping shots and stumbling around the ring.

In the five rounds that followed, Fisher’s fighting frailties and ring inexperience were grossly exposed. He got beat up.

Anything less than a dramatic improvement in both stamina and ability this weekend will lead to a similar outcome.

Resurgent Allen will be fitter and stronger and knows he can hurt and dismantle Fisher in front of this home fans, like he did in Saudi.

Fisher has the power to take Allen out, eventually, if he lands frequently and often. But it won’t come from one shot alone; Allen’s chin is too good for that.

And there lies the problem.

Fisher doesn’t possess the ring IQ to unpick Allen in a similar fashion to the men who scored the four TKO losses he’s suffered in the past.

But Allen absolutely has the ring smarts to goad Fisher back into a dogfight designed to expose his inexperience once again.

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