Dave Allen reveals surprising IQ ahead of toughest fight of his career

Heavyweight cult hero Allen is targeting the biggest win of his career tonight when he takes on Filip Hrgovic at the Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster

Dave Allen reckons he could have been a genius if he hadn’t been bashed in the head for a living.

Heavyweight cult hero Allen is targeting the biggest win of his career tonight when he takes on Filip Hrgovic at the Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster. He knows he will have to use his brains as well as his brawn if he is to cause an upset against the dangerous Croatian. But despite suffering bad beatings at the hands of David Price, Frazer Clarke and Tony Yoka, Allen insists his mind and body are as sharp as ever.

“The honest truth is, there are 10 pro boxers in our gym and I’ve been hit less than all of them over the last five years,” he said. “I’ve sparred probably 100 rounds max in five years and I’ve had three fights that I’ve been hit back in; I feel fresh. I’ll only stop when either my coaches or my mum say I’ve had enough or if I can’t compete at a certain level anymore.

“But I’m still passing medicals and I did an IQ test about six weeks ago. I think I’m in the top three per cent so it’s all good. My IQ was 132 which is very, very good. I think Mensa is 150 so maybe I could have been there if it wasn’t for the boxing.” But despite his bravado, Allen knows he will be up against it when he trades with Hrgovic.

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“From the outside looking in, it’s a bit of a mismatch on paper,” he admitted. “I would say we have a world-class operator with a domestic-level heavyweight, but the domestic-level heavyweight has shown glimpses of being able to compete with a guy like this. So Hrgovic should win, but don’t be surprised if the underdog causes the upset.

“I’m in better shape now than I’ve been for the last 10 or 15 years. And with that, my hand positioning’s been better in sparring, my hands are in the right place, I’ve been bending my legs, I’ve been moving at the waist and my hips. I’ve not felt this good for a very long time and I don’t think I’ve ever boxed better, so I’m well up for it.

“I’ve faced lot of different problems over the years and lot of it’s been self-sabotage, a lot of it’s been my own doing. But I really, really think now I’m on the straight and narrow now.”