Packed Sheffield card including the return of Dave Allen this Friday

Dave Allen vs. Andrea Pesce

Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, England 27/8/21

Not only a quality fighter and social media phenomenon – Doncaster’s Dave Allen has also turned his hand to management; passing on his considerable knowledge of the fight game to a number of fledgling fighters.

The ‘White Rhino’ – who has faced top heavies including Luis Ortiz, Tony Yoka and Dillian Whyte – returns to the ring on August 27th at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge Arena, live on Fightzone – appearing on the same undercard as two of his charges, Stevi Levy and Levi Kinsiona.

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Norfolk’s Levy, 3-0, and Sheffield’s Levi Kinsiona, 7-1 (1), are part of the supporting cast to headliner Anthony Tomlinson. Undefeated at 13-0 (7), the 29-year-old Sheffield fighter will take on Mexico’s Dante Jardon, 33-6 (24), for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) Inter-Continental Welterweight Title.

Also on the card, another undefeated Sheffield fighter, super featherweight Kane Salvin gets the chance to defend his Central Area Title against Manchester’s Michael Gomez Jr. Salvin is 6-0, while Gomez Jr has lost just once in 14 outings, with the bout also seconding as an eliminator for the English crown.

Allen, 18-5-2 (15), hasn’t boxed since February 2020 and will get a six round workout against Italian Andrea Pesce, 7-13-3 (2) – who will view this as the perfect opportunity to cause an upset by adding Dave’s scalp to his record.

Allen’s ring ‘comeback’ is slated to be a low-key affair. The 29-year-old still harbours British Title ambitions but, after a painful 2019 defeat to David Price, says he will know when the time is right to call it a day, leaving him to fully focus on his stable of fighters.

“I signed Stevi in the first week in June and she had her first fight with me on the 25th of June, which she won. I’ve got a good relationship with Dennis [Hobson] and we got her out straightaway. She’s got a new manager and trainer, and she’s doing great. She’s not had any amateur fights, so she’s going to improve and I’m looking forward to her journey.

“I didn’t want to take on any top pros, or top amateurs turning over. All the amateurs I’ve trained were non-bouters, or one-bouters. I’ve had lots of good pros asking me train or manage them but I haven’t wanted to. I want to work with people like Stevi Levy and I want to see her do well. Fightzone is giving her the opportunity to box on TV, which she probably wouldn’t have got.

“I’ve also got Levi Kinsiona, who’s a really good prospect. In 2022, I think he’ll pick up the English Title and I believe he’ll win a British Title too.”