In his last fight, Allen knocked out previously unbeaten Johnny Fisher. Makhmudov successfully returned to the winning path in June after a defeat by Guido Vianello, securing a quick victory over Ricardo Brown.
“Dave Allen, it seems to me, is crazy,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “I gave him a list of names, and he chose the most dangerous one, the one that will likely be the most exhausting, the most physically challenging, and all because, as he said, he is scared of it to death. I asked: ‘Why would you choose from a list of six fighters the one you are most afraid of?’ He replied: ‘Because I can train normally.’ I told him: ‘Dave, I stopped understanding you a long time ago, but thank you, because in October you will show us a really spectacular fight.’