Dave Allen`s life journey has been remarkable, transitioning from a supply teacher to battling gambling addiction, and ultimately becoming a cherished figure in boxing.
He began his boxing career as an amateur at 16, having only ten fights before going pro in 2012, bypassing an opportunity with the GB Squad.
Allen debuted professionally at age 20, but just three years later, having fought only seven times, he was struggling financially.
The heavyweight supplemented his income by working as a sparring partner, earning about £500 weekly, but this proved insufficient.
Consequently, he took a job as a supply teacher, admitting to falsifying his CV to secure the position, before resuming his boxing career in 2015.
However, by that time, Allen was struggling with a severe gambling addiction, which began years earlier after making a small bet with his father at age eight.
His life worsened significantly after he discovered online betting.
Speaking openly on former middleweight champion Darren Barker`s podcast, he shared: “It really just spiraled.”
He recalled enjoying time at betting shops playing machines, describing them as “great times.”
However, he noted, “But the online stuff is where it got bad for me because it was so easy, it was numbers on the screen.”
Allen, who has sparred with top fighters like Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Oleksandr Usyk, stated that the addiction was driven by the act of winning bets, not the money itself.
He explained his mindset: “I have no interest in the money at all.”
“The kind of gambler I am, it`s not about the money for me. When the money runs out, that`s the only issue.”
“I never wanted to withdraw any money, I just wanted to keep winning. To be honest, at that time it was like an escapism from real life.”
Allen described a destructive daily routine involving sleeping until 2 pm to participate in the first race of the day, often going to bed around 6 am.
Thankfully, Allen successfully overcame his addiction, supported by his sister and wife, with whom he has a son and daughter.
He revealed: “Since I was 26, I`ve not been in control of my own money.”
“So at 26, I said to my sister, `You`re going to have to look after my money, to be honest.`”
“My sister set me up a bank account and for the last seven and a half years if I want any money at all, I have to text my sister and now my missus, I get a card and they send me money.”
“Because, if I could still gamble now, I think I would. I`ve spent mad money on mad s***, I was spending ridiculous money and when I boxed Luis Ortiz, I did it for the money, really.”
“I think I owed a few quid at the time of the Dillian Whyte fight, I think I lost about eight grand on the day of the fight, I didn`t clear too much more than that really.”
To stay on track, Allen also works as a trainer and manager for young boxers.
He commented: “I need it as much as them, started training the kids seven or eight years ago and that`s my sustainability really.”
He`ll Get Knocked Out
“It`s really kept me on the straight and narrow.”
Allen initially retired from boxing in 2020 at age 28, following a tough knockout defeat to 2008 Olympic bronze medalist David Price.
However, he returned to the sport a year later and has since competed eight more times, maintaining immense popularity with British fans.
The 33-year-old Allen recently experienced a controversial split-decision loss against 26-year-old Johnny Fisher in Saudi Arabia last December.
The two are set for a rematch this Saturday at the Copper Box Arena, which is considered Fisher`s adopted home venue.
Allen, who knocked Fisher down in the fifth round of their last bout, issued a warning: “If he fights me May 17th he`ll get knocked out because I`ll be sharper, a little bit fitter.”
“If he boxes me it will be hard work, of course it is. But I don`t think at the Copper Box he`ll hold it together and box.”
“He`ll get in a fight at some point. I`m not the biggest puncher but I hit too hard for him and I`m too strong for him. He`s tough, though.”
