Dave Allen throws hat in ring to be Tyson Fury tune-up opponent on one condition

Dave Allen has offered his services as a tune-up opponent for Tyson Fury ahead of his long-awaited all-British showdown with Anthony Joshua.

The British heavyweight titans are set to collide at the back end of the year after competing in warm-up bouts.

Joshua squares off with Kristian Prenga on July 25, while Fury is expected to return to the ring in the same month after a successful comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov in April.

No opponent has been chosen yet, but Allen is hoping he can punch his ticket for a fight with Fury by giving a good account of himself against Filip Hrgovic on Saturday night.

“If I beat Hrgovic, Tyson Fury is getting called out,” Allen told Sky Sports of his former sparring partner.

“100 per cent. Even if I lose to Hrgovic but put a good fight up, I want the Fury fight.”

Allen faces an uphill battle against Hrgovic.

‘The White Rhino’ opens up as a 6/1 underdog with most bookies for his homecoming fight at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster.

Allen (25-8-2) came unstuck at fring-world level when he locked horns with Makhmudov in October 2025.

But he will now attempt to bridge the gap to the divisional elite against Hrgovic after a one-round blowout of French journeyman Karim Berredjem earlier this year.

Hrgovic (19-1) fell to the first defeat of his professional career in June 2024 at the hands of Daniel Dubois.

Since then, he has rebounded to beat Britain’s Joe Joyce and David Adeleye in back-to-back bouts.

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The Croatian also holds a victory over Zhilei Zhang and enjoyed a fruitful amateur career culminating in an Olympic bronze medal.

Providing Hrgovic comes out unscathed, then a quick turnaround against Moses Itauma remains a genuine possibility.

Itauma is set to headline London’s O2 Arena on August 8, and, according to Frank Warren, Hrgovic is among the names under consideration as the youngster’s dance partner.

“He could be there. We’ll make our decision next week who it’s going to be,” Warren told Sky Sports.

“[Against Allen] Filip Hrgovic is going into the other man’s backyard, and he’s determined to show that he should be in this mix with a big, big fight.

“It’s so alight, it’s so electric, this heavyweight division. So many good fights to be made, and they’re all vying to get into contention for the big fights.”

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