By Sport Chronicles
Filip Hrgovic quieted a partisan crowd in Doncaster on Saturday night, stopping local favorite Dave Allen via third-round technical knockout at the Eco-Power Stadium. The Croatian heavyweight, an Olympic bronze medalist, moved his professional record to 20-1 (15 KOs) after a one-sided encounter that saw Allen’s corner throw in the towel to protect their fighter from further punishment.
The scheduled 10-round contest, billed as “Dave vs Goliath,” ended abruptly when trainers Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis intervened as Filip Hrgovic trapped Dave Allen against the ropes with a sustained barrage of punches. Despite entering the ring at 248.8 pounds—his lightest weight in over seven years—Allen was unable to bridge the gap in class against the visitor. Referee Steve Gray officially ended the bout in the third frame, marking Hrgovic’s first TKO victory since his 2023 win over Mark de Mori.
For Filip Hrgovic, the victory stabilizes his position in the heavyweight rankings following a solo career loss to
Daniel Dubois in mid-2024. He controlled the pace from the opening bell, utilizing his 248.4-pound frame to dictate the range. The win ensures he remains a prominent fixture on the global scene as promoters look to finalize major events for the second half of the year.
Tactical Superiority and the Final Stoppage
Filip Hrgovic began the fight by establishing a firm jab, preventing Dave Allen from working his way inside. While the “Doncaster De La Hoya” showed a vastly improved physical condition—weighing more than 20 pounds less than in his previous outing—he struggled to find an answer for the Croatian’s precision. Darts superstar Luke Littler was among the high-profile spectators who watched as the technical disparity between the two heavyweights became clear by the second round.
The end came in the third when Filip Hrgovic increased his work rate, pinning the man known as “The White Rhino” into the corner. After a series of unanswered right hands, the towel was correctly deployed from Allen’s corner. In the ring afterward, Dave Allen offered no excuses for the result, admitting that his opponent was “too good” and praising his trainers for their decision to halt the contest.
The event, which was broadcast live on DAZN and covered by Sky Sports, also featured a significant domestic lightweight title fight. Louie O’Doherty secured a unanimous decision over Ahmed Hatim to claim the BBBOC British and CBC Commonwealth championships, while Michael Gomez Jnr stopped Lee McGregor in a physical encounter that saw McGregor dropped in the fourth.
Future Path for ‘The White Rhino’
Despite the comprehensive nature of the defeat, Dave Allen confirmed to the Doncaster crowd that he intends to continue his career, stating he has “a few more fights” left in him. He spoke candidly about his standing in the division, noting that while he considers himself a good fighter, he is “not a great fighter.” His career record now stands at 25-9-2 with 20 knockouts.
Allen’s long-term goal remains a bid for the British title, a trophy he described as a “long-vaunted dream.” However, Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn noted that such a move is unlikely to materialize immediately following a TKO loss of this nature. Reports suggest Allen may instead opt for a tune-up bout against a journeyman to regain momentum before pursuing larger domestic matchups.
Potential future opponents for Dave Allen include:
- A rematch with Johnny Fisher
- A domestic clash with Jeamie TKV
- High-profile bouts against Joseph Parker or Zhilei Zhang
- A potential encounter with Daniel Dubois
Heavyweight Implications and Upcoming Schedules
Filip Hrgovic’s victory keeps him in the hunt for a world title opportunity, a position he nearly reached prior to his loss in Saudi Arabia last year. With the heavyweight landscape shifting frequently, the Croatian remains a viable opponent for the division’s leading names. His performance on May 16 reinforces his status as a world-class operator capable of headlining
major international boxing schedules.
Meanwhile, the division continues to monitor the activities of other top-tier names like
Tyson Fury, who has faced his own challenges in maintaining box office dominance ahead of his upcoming assignments. For Dave Allen, the next steps will likely involve a period of recovery before deciding whether to make one final run at the Lonsdale Belt or accept a role as a high-level gatekeeper for the next generation of UK prospects.
