Andy Ruiz Jr next fight: Dave Allen expects Sheffield showdown in spring

Dave Allen says Matchroom plan to match him with Andy Ruiz Jr at Sheffield Arena in March or April, a fight the 34-year-old British heavyweight admits could be his last. Ruiz lost his most recent fight to Damian Knyba.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Wed 28 Oct, 15:12 UK · AI-assisted reporting

allen on ruiz graphic — Original graphic: Combat Sports UK

Dave Allen expects to face former unified heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz Jr at Sheffield Arena in March or April, in what the 34-year-old British heavyweight has said could be the final fight of his career.

Allen told The Fight Wire that his contract with Matchroom Boxing had run out, and that the promotion's chief executive, Frank Smith, had told him to get in good shape for a return to Sheffield against Ruiz.

Ruiz is expected to extend his relationship with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom despite losing his debut for the promotion. Damian Knyba beat him by unanimous decision in his first fight in two years, a layoff that followed a draw with Jarrell Miller. Before the Miller fight, Ruiz had won only twice since losing his rematch with Anthony Joshua in 2019, the year he took Joshua's titles with a seventh-round stoppage.

Allen's recent form has been mixed. He was stopped in the third round by Filip Hrgovic in May, then won two four-round points decisions against journeymen before his most recent fight, against Thomas Carty, ended in a no-contest.

Allen accepted that Ruiz at his peak would be too good for him. He said: “The best Ruiz would beat the best me, but you never know [what will happen] on that one night, do you? He might be finished and it might be a fairytale ending for me.”

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