Dave Allen's homecoming dream turned into a brutal nightmare as he was stopped by Filip Hrgovic in Doncaster. The heavyweight clash, which was meant to be a make-or-break moment for Allen, ended in controversy when his trainer threw in the towel, sparking boos from the crowd.
Early Aggression Fades
Allen looked to land his looping right hand from the opening bell, but Hrgovic quickly established his jab and followed up with cuffing rights. The Croatian had the home favourite pinned against the ropes in the second round, landing at will.
Relentless Punishment
Hrgovic was toying with Allen, with only the Brit's chin keeping him upright. Allen did drop to the canvas in the third round, but the referee ruled it a slip. However, the punishment continued unabated, leading trainer Jamie Moore to throw in the towel—much to Allen's disgust.
The decision to stop the fight was met with boos from the partisan crowd, who felt Allen could have continued. Despite the disappointment, Allen's bravery was evident as he absorbed heavy shots throughout the contest.
More to follow on this developing story.
