Dave Allen v Filip Hrgovic: Doncaster Rovers' Eco-Power Stadium to stage mammoth challenge for Yorkshireman
Doncaster Rovers’ Eco-Power Stadium is set to stage a mammoth challenge for the city’s own Dave Allen.
The affable heavyweight, dubbed the ‘Doncaster De La Hoya’, has been rewarded for his career resurgence with a huge hometown fight.
He will top a bill at the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday, May 16, fighting the powerful Croatian bruiser Filip Hrgovic.
Allen will not be heading into the bout as favourite, with Daniel Dubois the only boxer to have toppled Hrgovic in a professional bout.
Hrgovic has won 19 of his 20 fights, securing knockout victories in 14 of them. Allen has won 25 of his 35 bouts, losing eight and drawing two.
‘Dave vs Goliath’
“May 16 will be a magical experience for Dave Allen,” said Queensbury’s Frank Warren. “He is taking on a world-class operator in Filip Hrgovic, but he gets to do it on his own doorstep at Doncaster Rovers.
“This will be a huge occasion for the city of Doncaster and for the fans who have backed Dave throughout his career.
“Filip has got into a habit of beating British heavyweights,so this really is a ‘Dave vs Goliath’ battle.”
Dave Allen’s career revival
Allen’s valiant display in a defeat to Jonny Fisher in December 2024 put him firmly back in the limelight. He followed the performance up with a win over Fisher in May 2025, landing himself a Utilita Arena Sheffield bout against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
It proved to be a step too far for Allen, who never really got going against the towering Russian.
However, he will have a chance to show he can hang with the elites when he locks horns with Hrgovic. He did make a winning return to action last month, dispatching of Karim Berredjem within just 57 seconds.
Fellow Doncastrian Terri Harper was roared to victory at the Eco-Power last year, defeating Natalie Zimmerman in a lightweight contest.
Tickets for Allen’s next battle are not yet on sale but fans can register for the pre-sale online.