Allen volunteers to be opponent for Fury tune-up bout

Dave Allen has volunteered himself to be the opponent for Tyson Fury’s tune-up bout ahead of the former champion’s showdown with Anthony Joshua later this year.

Fury is set to box his long-time rival Joshua late in 2026. But with Joshua taking a comeback fight in July, Fury could have a warm-up of his own in the summer.

No opponent has been decided for that tune-up, but Allen, the popular Doncaster heavyweight, has offered his services for that bout.

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He hopes his contest on Saturday against Filip Hrgovic will put himself in the frame for that Fury fight.

"If I beat Hrgovic, Tyson Fury is getting called out," Allen told Sky Sports. "100 per cent.

"Even if I lose to Hrgovic but put a good fight up, I want the Fury fight."

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Hrgovic though could well be yet another gruelling fight in Allen's career. In October the Doncaster man suffered a punishing 12-round loss to Arslanbek Makhmudov, whom Fury beat on his return to boxing last month.

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"I'll do what I can but it's going to be hard work," Allen said of Hrgovic. "Another Olympic medallist, the fourth Olympic medallist I've faced in my career. I've boxed everybody.

"I'm buzzing for it, I'm excited for it, I'm not under no pressure. All the pressure's on Filip. I've just got to go out there, do my best, try my best and that's enough."

Allen also suspects that Hrgovic is looking past him to a potential fight with Moses Itauma.

Itauma is due to box next in August and if Hrgovic does come through his bout with Allen victorious and unscathed he could get that fight.

"He could be there. We'll make our decision next week who it's going to be," promoter Frank Warren told Sky Sports.

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"[Against Allen] Filip Hrgovic is going into the other man's backyard and he's determined to show that he should be in this mix with a big, big fight. It's so alight, it's so electric, this heavyweight division. So many good fights to be made and they're all vying to get into contention for the big fights."

Allen maintains he can spring an upset. "I've sold the tickets just so he can come over here and bang me out in a few rounds and call Itauma out - I know the script. But I've trained hard and I really think I can give anyone a fight. I'll hopefully prove that Saturday," Allen said.

"I think Filip Hrgovic will get a real big surprise actually. I think he'll be surprised by my speed and my ability. Even though I'm not as tough as people think, I'm definitely a hell of lot better than people think."

Allen won't take inspiration from last weekend's epic heavyweight battle between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois, quite the reverse in fact.