Two young and unbeaten British heavyweights who are still in the early stages of their respective careers got stoppage wins tonight. In Sheffield, on the under-card of the Kell Brook-Kevin Bizier show, David Allen improved to 9-0-1(6) with a 4th-round corner retirement win over experienced U.S journeyman Jason Gavern, 27-21-4(12).
24-year-old Allen was to have fought Richard Towers in a British title eliminator but Towers pulled out with illness and 38-year-old Gavern, no stranger to British shores having fought Anthony Joshua and participated in a “Prizefighter” show here, stepped in at late notice. The fight was unfortunately a dull, scrappy affair, despite Gavern’s attempts at livening things up with his familiar “whooo” chants during the action.
Gavern took a few shots in the 4th, backing to the ropes, but he did not appear hurt enough to have opted to call it a day at the conclusion of the round as he did. Fans were not happy with Gavern’s capitulation, but Allen now looks for bigger fights. Speaking with Sky Sports afterwards, Allen called out David Price, who is set to make a comeback soon. Allen said he’ll KO Price if the match-up is made.
Over at Wembley, on the under-card of the Chris Eubank Junior-Nick Blackwell show, 28-year-old Nick Webb looked far more impressive, albeit against a lesser opponent than the usually durable Gavern. The 6’5” puncher improved to 5-0, all by KO, with an easy 1st-round stoppage of 38-year-old Zoltan Csala of Hungary, 9-5(7) coming in. Webb, who has some people excited, came out fast as usual and soon a big right uppercut to the jaw had the visiting fighter bent over, blinking in pain and wanting no more.
Referee Terry O’Connell counted Csala out and waved the fight off after just 1:19 of the opening round of the scheduled four-rounder. Trained by former pro Scott Welch, Webb has the size, speed and power to perhaps go far. He is next scheduled to fight on David Haye’s under-card at The O2 in London on May 21st. Here’s an idea: how about Allen and Webb meeting up later this year?