Dave Allen says he wants to turn off Arslanbek Makhmudov by playing Mind Games before their 12-round on this Saturday, October 11 at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. Their battle will be shown Live on dazn This Saturday. The event starts at 2pm et / 23:00 pt.
Smile warfare begins
Allen’s strategy is to deliberately annoy the Big 6’5 1/2 ″ Russian Makhmudov (20-2, 19 food) by smiling. He admits it doesn’t seem to work. Instead of Makhmudov looking angry, he looks happy with how friendly Allen is, as shown by his smiles.
The other strategy that Allen (24-7-2, 19 COs) has is to duck and evade in the first quarter of the fight Makhmudov’s firepower and then start to move on in rounds four and five. Makhmudov may still be too powerful at that point in the fight for Allen to go on the attack.
In Arslanbek’s recent eighth round defeat to Guido Vianello on August 17, 2024, he still threw in round five to seven with a lot of power. Makhmudov had a swollen, injured left eye, and he could barely look forward to it. Even with that, he threw big haymakers with a knockout. If not for Guido’s technical ability, he would have been cut.
Allen will have to be careful not to be hit, because the shots that Makhmudov throw has a lot of power and weight behind them. The top cut and the club hands he throws will harm when or if they end up on Allen. In many years since his fight against Tony Yoka in 2018, he has not fought a heavyweight at Makhmudov’s level.
“I’m trying to annoy him. I’m not sure how well it’s going to work. I wanted him to try to hit my head. I tried to annoy him. The sooner he bends, the better, ‘Dave Allen told Talksport Boxing About the will of Arslanbek Makhmudov outside and inside the ring.
Makhmudov does not cut
Allen does not seem to understand Makhmudov well. He looks completely indifferent to the mind games that Allen is trying to play. Makhmudov has too much experience at the pro level and in the amateurs in Russia. Trying to annoy him probably won’t work. Again, Allen’s smile makes him become friendly. Makhmudov even said in an interview that he thinks Allen is a ‘cute’ person.
“I can’t wait for rounds four and five to start. The more I can get him to hit the smile from my face, the faster I can make it work. If he throws bumps, I will bend and dive. I will get to work when he starts to blow.
Since 2015, Olly Campbell has brought readers clear perspective and a steady voice on the biggest evenings of Boxing.
Last updated on 10/10/2025
