Dave Allen could have got six figures with DAZN but chose Fightzone TV instead
'The White Rhino' returns on a far understated platform than before
In an exclusive interview with Danny Flexen for SecondsOut, popular heavyweight Dave Allen (18-5-2, 15KOs) revealed exactly what led him to emerge from retirement less than a year after hanging up his gloves.
The 30-year-old from Conisbrough, who has fought against David Price, Tony Yoka, Luis Ortiz, Dillian Whyte, and headlined at The O2 against former world champion Lucas Browne, has attributed his comeback to helping the fighters he now manages – Levi Kinsiona (7-1, 1KO) and Stevi-Ann Levy (3-0).
He explained, "I retired November time, I was really happily retired, so I started managing fighters, so this is my move after boxing so I can still be involved in boxing.
"Started managing Levi Kinsiona, I was managing about six at first, two of them were journeyman, the ones who were on the road, and I said look I'm managing fighters and don't take a percentage, I'm taking zero per cent off any of them, and if I'm gonna be doing it for free, I don't want to manage losers. It mind sound harsh, but if I'm doing it for free, I'm involved because I want to be part of your success.
"So, two of them I said to manage yourself, please don't let anyone take money from you, it ain't that hard. Another two of them I said, 'look I didn't really rate them, I'm not managing you because I don't think you're that good'.
"Levi Kinsiona, I think has got a lot of talent, he also works a full-time job and is doing a degree – how could you not want to help a man that's doing that? And Stevi is a good friend of mine, so I said I'll manage her as well."
Levi Kinsiona is former national amateur champion who is now 7-1 as a pro, and Stevi-Ann Levy is currently undefeated at 3-0. Both fight on Friday, August 27, on the same card as Allen at Ponds Forge Arena in Sheffield, broadcast live on Fightzone TV.
"So I'm sat at home right, so I'm managing these two fighters, and it was Levi at the time and I was thinking how can I get him out? So I messaged Eddie [Hearn] and I said, 'Eddie, do me a favour, will you get Levi Kinsiona out?' and he said, 'Well, probably not mate', so I said, 'Alright, sound'.
So at this point, I'm trying to think of ways like how can I get him out, we did get him on a Matchroom bill in the end but got pulled off four days before, because his opponent pulled out. I'm looking at Frank Warren and thinking 'yeah that's great but we got loyalty to Ed'. So nothing is being offered anywhere and I thought I used to work with Dennis, he was my first manager. So I spoke to them, it's an interesting platform, an interesting idea. So I went back to the gym, on the sly, I'm 21stone so I'm not enjoying it, but I went for two or three weeks. I said, 'Look, I want to come on board right, but the kids I manage they're on board with me. When I box, they box, and I'm going to bring a big audience with me'.
"And I could have gone back to DAZN and I would have got six figures for an Alen Babic fight, so it's not about the money, I don't need the money. I like the platform and like what he's doing and kids are getting on TV, of course it's not a massive platform, so I think it's a great idea and I'm proud to be involved in it. Levi and Stevi are also fighting on Friday so there you are, so I'm excited to be back fighting but I'm equally excited to get the fighters out and watch Stevi and Levi do the business as well."
Allen had won five from his last six fights, but it was a punishing 10th-round retirement at the heavy hands of Liverpool hero David Price that prompted his decision to quit getting punched in the face anymore.
Now he returns in a routine six-round contest this Friday against Italian journeyman Andrea Pesce (7-13-3, 2KOs), and he revealed just why he decided to return, "The time I had off were probably the best four or five months of my life! It was a really nice period of my life. I don't need to come back for any other reason than I want to give these [fighters] an opportunity and I've still got a bit left to give. This is an entertainment business and I can still entertain, I'm still putting bums on seats. As long as I'm entertaining people and they want to come and see me, I'll continue to do so while I'm heathy."
When asked if Allen would ever accept the previous offer of six-figures to fight Alen Babic on DAZN, he replied, "If I believed I could win it, then yes, but only then. If I had boxed Alen Babic on Friday, I wouldn't beat him. I probably wouldn't last three rounds. I wouldn't beat Fabio Wardley at the minute. I've been out for 20 months. I'm not at that level right now.
"I'm not interested in putting more miles on the clock than needed. If I box Alen Babic, if I box Fabio Wardley, if I box Nathan Gorman, if I box any of them, I will beat them; if I don't box them, it's because I know I can't."
How to watch Allen-Pesce this Friday night
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