DAVE ALLEN will be “s***ing” himself fighting in front of 80,000 fans – but will still be composed enough to “flatten” Thomas Carty.
Allen faces the Irish heavyweight southpaw on Saturday at Croke Park – in what looks to be the penultimate bout of his career.
The beloved British fan-favourite will never top headlining at Doncaster’s Eco-Power Stadium – when he was hammered by the new IBF world champion Filip Hrgovic.
But not even his homecoming will be as nerve-racking as walking out to the packed out Croke Park.
He said: “I’d be s***ting myself. It is what it is. The feeling left me, but 80,000 people? Yeah, I’m gonna s*** myself, big time!
“So will Thomas as well. There’s more pressure on him I’d say, at home, he still has ambition to go on and win things.”
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Allen has been used as a measuring stick for up-and-coming prospects and world-level contenders.
He knocked out Johnny Fisher, 27, in their 2025 rematch but was stopped in three one-sided rounds to Hrgovic, 34, in May.
And he warned Carty, 30, that if he is not up to that same standard then he will end up as another would-be heavyweight hopeful on his record.
Allen said: “I’ve boxed Olympic gold medalist, two world champions. I’ve been in with the best of them.
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There’s a massive year of boxing ahead!
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“I think you’re a good fighter but if you’re not very good I’ll f***ing flatten you. I always have, all my career, flattened all of them.
“I’m not the best boxer in the world and when I get on the scales everyone will go, ‘F***ing hell, Dave. What are you doing?’
“But Saturday night, again, at this level against a good fighter, because you are and a good bloke, you’re a proper solid bloke, I like you.
“But, I will flatten you, one hundred per cent. I don’t have a doubt.”