Fisher-Allen rematch is first rays of a golden summer

Saturday's bout is the perfect appetiser for a supreme spell of heavyweight action, including the return of Fabio Wardley and Usyk vs Dubois 2 at Wembley, writes Steve Bunce

- Steve Bunce

The “Bosh Army” will pack London’s Copper Box on Saturday for an old-fashioned British heavyweight fight when their idol, Johnny Fisher, fights Dave Allen.

In a boxing world of Saudi gold, YouTube novices and protected prospects, along come Fisher and Allen in a rematch that would not be out of place at the Royal Albert Hall in the Seventies. A venue at the time with a three-roped ring and smoke often lingering so heavily that a view from the cheap seats was obscured by the fog.

Fisher and Allen are probably not in the top 10 British heavyweights right now, which is not a slight on either of them – it is just the reality of a domestic division packed with topranked heavyweights.

Fisher and Allen met last year in Riyadh, and it was a great scrap; Fisher, unbeaten in 12 going in, was dropped and hurt in the fifth round and Allen, who was in the best shape of his life, believed he had done enough to win on points after 10 rounds. Fisher never quite got the credit for coming back from the knockdown, but he showed maturity and real desire to last.