RIP Carl Allen, boxer who tested the very best in our business

Carl Allen...Wolverhampton's former Midlands champion

ONE of the Midlands’ great servants, Carl Allen, has passed away following a long battle with illness.

News of his passing, at just 54-years-old, broke yesterday (Thursday), sparking a flood of tributes.

The Wolverhampton boxer had a long, 140 bout career stretching from 1995 to 2014 – and he fought them all from super-bantam to light-welter.

Jon Thaxton, Gavin Rees, Esham Pickering, Martin Gethin, Michael Gomez, Bradley Pryce, Duke McKenzie…

Carl’s record is a who’s who of top champs. Yet despite mixing with the very best – sometimes at short notice, the Black Country boxer only failed to hear the final bell 18 times. That’s a testament to his toughness and skill.

He could box, was a defensive maestro and carried a healthy dig. What’s more, having been at ringside for a number of his contests, I can testify Carl was a thoroughly nice, grounded individual.

He took the Midlands super-bantam title by one point following an absolute barnstormer with Matt Harris, now head of the British Boxing Board of Control’s Midlands Council. That 1996 thriller at Walsall Town Hall was named fight of the year.

Ten years later, Tristan Davies – father of super-bantam sensation Liam – outpointed him for the lightweight belt.

Allen and Matt Harris punch it out in their small hall classic

Old foe Matt Harris said: “I fought Carl three times in the amateurs. The first time we fought, I beat him quite comfortably. The last time, my face looked like I was the loser. It was a mess.

“As a pro, I lost the area title to him and that was the Midlands fight of the year. He was an absolutely lovely lad – it was always great speaking with him, he was so friendly.”

On facebook, ref Shaun Messer posted: “I reffed him in my early reffing days. He was a good pro fighter. Salute to you, Carl.”

Carl was incredibly active and saved the day for many a promoter. His “have gloves will travel” approach meant he lost more than he won, but gained him regular ring employment. He retired with a 19-114-7 slate.

He gave the very best a test.

The pro game owes Carl Allen a debt of gratitude. So do the many champions he helped reach the top.

We’ll not see fighters like him again.