Arslanbek Makhmudov Advances Toward a Potential Fight with Anthony Joshua
Arslanbek Makhmudov may have secured a shot at facing Anthony Joshua following his unanimous decision victory over popular British heavyweight Dave Allen (scores of 115-111, 116-110, 117-109) during a grueling match on Saturday at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England.
“Anthony Joshua, where are you? I’m coming for you, brother,” Makhmudov exclaimed after his win. “We’ve already talked on Instagram, and he promised to fight me next year. I’m ready, brother.”
Both Joshua and Allen are part of Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, and with Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs) defeating Allen, the promotional company holds options on the Russian fighter. This could pave the way for Makhmudov to face Joshua, who is expected to return to the ring in early 2026.
Despite starting the fight with a powerful left hook that caught Makhmudov off balance, Allen struggled to keep pace. Makhmudov quickly found his rhythm, targeting Allen’s guard with heavy shots, despite not always landing clean strikes.
Makhmudov scored a significant left hook that rocked Allen just before the two-minute mark of Round 2. Even though Allen showed some aggression, especially in Round 5 when he landed body shots and uppercuts, he was generally overpowered as Makhmudov maintained a steady output throughout the fight.
While Makhmudov faced point deductions for holding in Round 7, Allen still found it difficult to make a comeback, managing a few notable punches in Round 9. As the final rounds approached, it became clear Allen needed a knockout to claim victory, but Makhmudov’s consistent activity in Rounds 10 and 11 kept him ahead on the scorecards.
