Dave Allen Withdraws, Retires: “I Don’t Want To Get Punched Anymore”

David Allen has revealed his decision to retire from professional boxing.

The 28-year-old heavyweight had been set to return to the ring on November 21 at the SSE Arena in Wembley, London.

Allen (18-5-2, 15 KOs) was originally scheduled to box on the undercard of the heavyweight clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Derek Chisora on October 31 at the same venue.

But due to opponent complications, that date was moved to a show headed up by Conor Benn in a defence of his WBA Continental welterweight title against Sebastian Formella.

However, ‘The White Rhino’ took to social media on Sunday to state that he would not be fighting on the Sky Sports- and DAZN-aired card after making the decision to call time on his career.

“I made the decision a few nights ago with my sister that I would no longer, from that moment on, be a professional fighter,” he wrote on Instagram. “Boxing has given me a life I could never have dreamed of. It’s taken me round the world, from New York City to working mens’ club all around the UK. As well as seeing the world, it has taken me from the kid brought up in a council house with yellow doors wearing Umbro to a man who still wears Umbro but owns a few houses and who has given myself a chance to give my future kids a life I could only have dreamed of.”

Allen was set to be a part of a card that would feature Youth Olympic gold medallist Hopey Price and Dillian Whyte’s heavyweight protege Fabio Wardley.

Wardley has been matched against Richard Lartey after the withdrawal of Lucas Browne, while Alen Babic, the undefeated Croatian puncher who is also looked after by Whyte, will see action against Tom Little and Sean Cairns, from Liverpool, will challenge Liam Davies, who is undefeated in seven heading in, for the vacant English title at bantamweight.

“Lastly,” Allen concluded, “the reason for me calling it a day is simple: I don’t want to get punched anymore.

“Long gone are the days of the kid from [Doncaster] who just wants to fight, all I want now is a nice quiet life with a wife and some kids, healthy and happy [and] getting nice and fat.”