HRGOVIC DELIVERS IN DONCASTER

DAVE ALLEN GOT to live his Doncaster dream last Saturday, while Filip Hrgovic reminded everyone why he has long been considered a genuine world level contender.

Dave’s dream, however, did prove to be short-lived and I fully understood the decision of his trainer Jamie Moore in sparing him unnecessary punishment. It quickly became evident that this wasn’t a fight he was going to make a meaningful impact in.

Credit to him though, Dave was the catalyst of the event and he demonstrated his huge popularity by making it a success. The fondness people have for him is obvious and, from our side, he was a pleasure to deal with.

I do hope he can realise another of his dreams and win a British heavyweight title before he finally calls it quits and focuses on his stable of fighters, several of which got to share the Eco-Power Stadium stage with him.

It has become pretty clear what we want next for Filip and we will work hard to get this done and create a major August showcase that will drum up even greater interest in the heavyweight division.

El Animal was calm and calculated against Dave, clinically putting his punches together and keeping himself out of harm’s way. I believe people do underestimate the punching power of the big Croatian. He can whack.

I thought Louie O’Doherty was terrific again in his first defence of his British lightweight title against the previously unbeaten Ahmed Hatim.

He is like a little pocket battleship who is continually on the attack and he maintains a high pace from first bell to last. It must be incredibly disheartening for his opponents to be under such constant pressure.

Louie now holds the Commonwealth title too and is in a fantastic position to move onto bigger things.

Michael Gomez Jr triumphed over Lee McGregor to continue his ascent and take home the WBA International lightweight title. He dominated Lee, who I felt was overwhelmed at the weight and should be operating at feather or super feather from now on.

I have been mightily impressed by our Uzbek duo over the last couple of weeks. Asadkhja Muydinkhujaev delivered a classy display in Doncaster, following on from Javokhir Ummataliev doing likewise with a spectacular stoppage in Manchester.

These two have got class and pedigree written all over them and I strongly suspect they are the sort of fighters who will be competing for world titles inside of 10 fights.

HAMZAH SHEERAZ IS fighting in front of the Pyramids of Giza on Saturday when he goes up against Alem Begic for the vacant WBO world super middleweight title, his second world title tilt in three fights.

I am proud of the way we have developed Hamzah from a raw rookie with little notable amateur experience to a potential world champion and we have worked hard to create the right opportunities and pathway for him.

The only bump in the road he has encountered was staying at middleweight for one fight too many and not showing the best of himself in his world title fight against Carlos Adames early last year.

A statement victory over Edgar Berlanga later and he can now become world champion at 168lbs against an opponent in Begic that I know he can shine against and bring home the bounty.