By Barry Holbrook: Dave Allen will be facing #15 WBA heavyweight contender Christopher Lovejoy this Saturday night on October 31st on Sky Box Office. Allen (18-5-2, 15 KO) could earn a top 15 world ranking if he defeats the 6’5″American, who is said to weigh over 300 pounds.
Allen vs. Lovejoy is scheduled for 10 rounds, which may too much for the American. Lovejoy has never gone past the first round during his short four-year professional career. He’s never had to.
With 19 knockouts all in the first round, Lovejoy hasn’t had to test his stamina like other fighters.
It’s a big risk for Allen but with a nice payoff if he wins, as it’ll open the doors for him to get a big fight once he gets ranked in the top tier of the division.
Allen and the 36-year-old Lovejoy will be fighting on the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Dereck Chisora undercard at the Wembley Arena in Wembley, UK.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn admits that he doesn’t know how good Lovejoy is, as he’s not seen him fight before. But he hears that he’s dangerous, and he can punch.
Lovejoy’s unbeaten record and 19 first-round knockouts would attest to his power. However, most of those knockouts came in Mexico against inferior opposition.
But for a fighter his size, Lovejoy has superb and speed, and that’ll make him dangerous for Allen. Lovejoy’s power alone makes him a tough match-up for Allen, but his hand speed could be too much for him.
Allen will be a MASSIVE upgrade in Lovejoy’s opposition, and he may not be ready for this level opponent. But with Lovejoy’s power, hand speed, it’s going to be interesting to see how Allen deals with him.
Hearn not sure if Lovejoy is any good
“With all due respect with Dave Allen and Christopher Lovejoy, that ain’t going to be headlining a pay-per-view card. Maybe the rematch will,” said Hearn to IFL TV.
“This is the reality we live in at the moment. Everything is with these tests, and everything is out of our hands. Everybody just gets through this week, and we have an amazing show on Saturday.
“Lenroy Thomas turned the fight [with Dave Allen] down. I made him three offers, and he said he wants a longer camp. I said you’ve been in London sparring for the last four or five weeks.
“He’s in great shape. This Lovejoy geezer. He keeps pestering me. I keep seeing him when I’m in America. No one really knows anything about him. He’s had these fights in Mexico mainly.
“And he’s managed to amass a record of 19-0 with 19 knockouts. He’s managed to get himself in the world top 15, but I have no idea if he’s any good.
“The feedback is mixed. ‘He can punch, but he’s not very good.’ Other blokes go, ‘He’s dangerous.’ But he talks an amazing game.
“If you’d met him before, you would think this guy has the potential to win a world heavyweight championship. That I know he doesn’t, but can he beat Dave Allen?” Hearn said.
Eddie may have done Allen, 28, no favors when he replaced his originally scheduled opponent Christian Hammer, who tested positive for COVID 19, with Lovejoy.
Many boxing fans gave Allen little chance of defeating Hammer, but he doesn’t have much chance of beating Lovejoy either. The World Boxing Association sees enough of Lovejoy’s ability for them to have given him a top 15 ranking.
Dave Allen has a tough task ahead of him
“Dave Allen is looking at him now, ‘Jesus Christ, if I beat this guy I’m going to be in the top 15 of the world.’ The action you’re going to get from Allen and Lovejoy this week is golden,” said Hearn.
“The truth is, I don’t know how good this guy [Lovejoy] is because he’s never beaten anyone of note. We know he’s a massive lump. He can obviously punch, but what happens after four or five rounds?
“I think you’re going to get a three-round shootout; I think someone is going to get knocked the spark out in that fight. The Hammer fight was going to be a good fight.
“It was going to be a longer fight and a bit slower. This is going to be a free for all. Someone is getting chinned. Someone said he’s 350 pounds. He doesn’t look 300.
“That’s what I’ve seen. People say he’s 340 lbs or something like that. He doesn’t look it. I’ve seen him, and I’ve met him on a few occasions. He’s a lump; he’s massive.
“But he doesn’t look from the clips to be that kind of weight, but he might be. The guy believes in himself, and he’s gotten himself into the position where if he beats Dave Allen, he’s going to become a big player because he looks the part.
“He’s huge with 19-0 with 19 knockouts. If he goes 20-0 with 20 knockouts, he’s going to get a massive fight. I’m just not sure how good he is. He might get chinned in two or three rounds,” said Hearn about Lovejoy.
You don’t normally get a sanctioning body giving a fighter a top tier world ranking when their opposition has been pure fluff like Lovejoy’s. The WBA obviously sees talent in Lovejoy, and they feel that he rates a world ranking.
Lovejoy’s last six opponents:
- Misael Sanchez (12-15-7)
- Daniel Yocupicio (6-50-2)
- Aaron Alexis Franco (0-3)
- Esteban Soso Vazquez (2-14)
- Roman Borquez (3-7-1)
- Edgar Montejo (1-4-1)
As you can see, Lovejoy hasn’t been fighting quality opposition during his career, and the other guys he’s fought are just as bad. For whatever reason, Lovejoy’s management has taken a slow approach with his career.
It’s understandable why Lovejoy has been brought along slowly because he didn’t have an amateur career like other fighters. So it makes sense that he’s not been rushed into a fight against someone with a lot of experience.
At 36, Lovejoy is ready to take a big step up against Allen, and we’re going to see if his world-class hand speed, size, and punching power is enough to beat a more experienced fighter.
Hearn is pulling for Allen to win on Saturday, but he may fall apart against the bigger Lovejoy. It would be a good idea for Allen to play it safe with Lovejoy in the early going, considering he’s clearly dangerous in the first round.
If Allen can get Lovejoy into the second half of their scheduled 10round fight, he can wear him out and stop him potentially.