It’s All About Risk and Reward for Intrepid British Heavyweight David Allen

LUIS ORTIZ vs. DAVID ALLEN — David Allen (9-1-1), not to be confused with Siarhei Liakhovich (“The White Wolf”), Clifford Etienne (“The Black Rhino”), or Frans Botha (“The White Buffalo”), is known as “The White Rhino” and recently “extended” Dillian Whyte 10 rounds while dropping a decision. Using mostly his right hand (due to an injury), Whyte easily beat a tentative and defensive-minded Allen by scores 99-91, 100-91, and 100-90. However, some still tout the Rhino as one of Britain’s upcoming heavyweight prospects, albeit a mid- to lower-tier one.  His best win has been over 39-year-old Jason Gavern.

According to an August 2016 report by Richard Dannerell in Boxing News, Allen had decided to leave the sport for an indeterminate spell after a recent relapse into depression and gambling issues: “I 100 per cent will box again at some point, because that’s what I love to do. But it’s just not giving me any stability in my life right now and that’s what I need.”

Fast Forward

Now, Allen is ready to fight again, though as an apparent sacrificial lamb. Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz looks to redeem himself from his lackluster effort against rabbit-like Malik Scott, as he makes a quick return to action. This time, he takes on Allen in a bout buried on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Eric Molina on December 10 at the Manchester Arena in what has now become an ultra-interesting heavyweight card that includes Whyte vs. Dereck Chisora in a grudge affair as well.

Kong said “We looked at opponents for December 10 and we wanted someone who will come to fight for the fans.” Hmmm. It might be interesting to find out where Team Ortiz looked. AJ is fighting Molina. Povetkin is fighting Stiverne. Klitschko and Wilder are both out with injuries. Parker vs. Ruiz is booked. Fury is –well—Fury is essentially gone. Haye is fighting Bellew. Most of the others are involved in juicing scandals—some, like Lucas Browne, are allegedly even double juicers. Other than David Price, Shannon Briggs and Tyson Fury’s cousin Hughie, the pickings seem mighty slim. It’s doubtful if Briggs or Price wants anything to do with Ortiz though Fury might be an interesting matchup. So even if this is a mismatch, Ortiz should not be criticized; he’s out to make money. Who is he supposed to fight if not Allen?

Allen says he was the first to call out Luis after the Scott debacle, but claims he “I had him in his sights before that.” The Rhino said ““I don’t think he’s what he’s hyped up to be, but I will give him more opportunity than Malik Scott to show he is the real deal …I’ll stand in front of him and see what he’s about. I’ll stand and trade because I can’t do anything else. You can expect a fight, that’s for definite…I’m going to make Ortiz look like an old man in there. When he hits me, I’m going to stand there and smile at him. This is the fight that will catapult my career on the world scene.” And that comment segues to what this fight is all about.

Risk Reward

The fight involves a risk/reward equation that curiously favors the Rhino. Everyone expects him to be blown away by the unbeaten and relentless Cuban. And if that happens, no one will be surprised and the Rhino will still be where he was; namely, a low to mid-tier heavyweight prospect, though a decent performance in losing will certainly raise his stock. In short, he has everything to gain and little to lose. If he should somehow, someway miraculously win, the reward will be almost unlimited in terms of what it does for his career and financial prospects

As for Ortiz, an early KO will keep his train rolling, and if the KO is a spectacular one, it might put him back where he was before the Tony Thompson win. However, if his performance is again lackluster, his reward will be a negative one that puts him farther back into the mix and raises serious questions about his viability. King Kong has little to gain but everything to lose–and if he loses, it’s adios amigo.

The Prediction

The Scott fight was supposed to be a showcase affair for Luis Ortiz in his first match under the helm of his new promoter Eddie Hearn (who likes to move his fighters along fast). Instead, Ortiz fought like he was 37-years-old five years ago as he failed to cut off the ring, throw right hooks, and finish off Scott with anything flush. This time, look for the Cuban to knock out Allen in the first round because this is a classic mismatch and Allen—even though he has everything to gain and not much to lose— has been served up as fodder and, like the White Rhino, may become extinct. If getting knocked out is entertaining, this will be a far more entertaining fight than Ortiz vs. Scott.

A word about Chisora vs. Whyte

This one has “main event” written all over it. While Joshua should dispatch Molina handily, that same quick outcome is not being predicted for either Dillian Whyte (19-1) or Dereck Chisora (25-6).

Their mutual dislike seems genuine though “Del Boy” Chisora can assume rage and animosity almost on demand and Whyte, the “Body Snatcher,” is nasty in demeanor as well (though his brand of trash talking is borderline embarrassing, if not repulsive). At one press conference, tensions supposedly boiled over. Among other things, Whyte, born in Jamaica but a resident of London, said Chisora’s breath stinks, while Chisora, born in Zimbabwe but a Londoner through and through, said he (Chisora) is like herpes; he just keeps on popping up. Clearly, “Del Boy” has more experience as a trash talker, having kissed, slapped, butted, spit at, and bitten opponents during weigh-ins; in fact, some of Chisora’s stuff is bizarre enough to fall into the category of high camp, but that won’t mean much when they get in the ring.

Chisora, 32, has fought better opposition but that might work against him depending on the toll some of those fights have taken (against the likes of Pulev, Tyson Fury twice, Haye, Helenius, and Vitali Klitschko).

Whyte, 28, a successful professional kick boxer before boxing, has an impressive 75% KO percentage and gave a good showing, especially in the early rounds, in his only loss to Anthony Joshua a year ago.

Both men have had serious out-of-the-ring troubles providing the grist for other articles, but space does not allow for their telling here.

While not a cross-roads fight, it’s more of a do-or-die for Del Boy than it is for Dillian Whyte, the “Body Snatcher.”

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Ted Sares is one of the world’s oldest active power lifters and holds several records. He enjoys writing about boxing and is a member of Ring 4’s Boxing Hall of Fame.