talkSPORT betting tips – Best boxing bets and expert advice for Dave Allen v Filip Hrgovic

Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley delivered a thrilling heavyweight contest last weekend and now heavy-hitting duo Dave Allen and Filip Hrgovic meet on Saturday night.

Allen will have a home Doncaster crowd on side at the Eco-Power Stadium, but the market anticipates a tough night for the White Rhino.

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Dave Allen vs Filip Hrgovic selections

Dave Allen @ 5/1
Fight to go the distance @ 5/4 

Doncaster dueller can upset the odds

Allen is 5/1 to beat Hrgovic in front of a home Doncaster crowd on Saturday night and the White Rhino rates a huge price.

There are many reasons used to explain differences in performances from fight to fight in boxing. Preparation, training, tactics, coach, time between bouts and styles amongst the plethora of excuses trotted out for underwhelming efforts.

However, the standard of opposition is the key factor when it comes to variation in performance level and it’s often ignored.

Hrgovic has won 19 of his 20 professional contests, but only four of those have come against credible opponents.

The Croatian has looked good against low-level boxers, but it has been a completely different story when the 33-year-old has stepped up in grade.

WBO world heavyweight champion Dubois landed on Hrgovic at will, before the doctors stepped in to halt the Zagreb fighter in 2024.

Prior to the loss to Triple D, Zhilei Zhang, who was a fringe world-level contender in his prime, downed Hrgovic and should have been awarded the verdict in that contest.

Joe Joyce took the 33-year-old 10 rounds and caused him problems last year, and David Adeleye, who is British standard at best, went the distance with the Croatian last time out and stopped him dazzling.

Allen would be a clear favourite against Adeleye, and perhaps even against Joyce, and while there are eight losses on the White Rhino’s card, his recent efforts suggest he is overpriced.

Fisher to go the distance

Johnny Fisher is not a top-level performer, but the Romford Bull was riding high when meeting Allen and the Doncaster dueller crushed Fisher in their rematch last year.

Allen then went 12 rounds with Arslanbek Makhmudov, who has since taken the elite-level Tyson Fury the distance, last year and that looks a pretty decent effort.

Of course, the White Rhino was clearly second-best against Makhmudov, but he hung around for the full 12 rounds and Allen has the punch power to be a dangerous opponent while he remains in the fight.

The best of Hrgovic’s form isn’t good enough to make the Zagreb boxer a 1/6 shot in this sport and, while Allen has a bridge to gap, it may not be as tricky as offers of 5/1 suggest.

Going 10 rounds with the 33-year-old looks like the least of the White Rhino’s hopes in Doncaster and Allen is also worth backing to spring a surprise in front of a home Eco-Power Stadium crowd.

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