Heavyweight Dave Allen has revealed the other names on the five-man hitlist from which he reportedly selected Arslanbek Makhmudov for his Sheffield headliner.

Allen (24-7-2, 19 KOs) emphatically fired himself back into the heavyweight picture when he brutally knocked out Johnny Fisher in their rematch at Copper Box in May.

His reward for that victory was a deal with Matchroom which is set to start with an outing later this year as the main event fight at Sheffield Arena.

It had seemed as though he was in position to fight Jeamie TKV next, but recent reports have revealed that Allen will instead face Russian puncher Makhmudov live on DAZN.

The 36-year-old was once considered a future heavyweight champion following a run to 18-0 with 17 KOs. But Agit Kabayel derailed that train when he stopped him inside four rounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2023. Allen (20-2, 19 KOs) also lost by eighth-round stoppage by Guido Vianello in August.

With an official announcement for Allen-Makhmudov imminent, the 33-year-old Englishman has confirmed the four names he turned down in favour of his next opponent.

During a Q&A on Instagram, he said: "The other four was [Tony] Yoka, [Otto] Wallin, [Alexis] Barriere and [Nelson] Hysa. Not sure if all four could have happened, but they was four of the five I was asked if I was interested in boxing next.

"I picked the guy who will be announced next week. He's scary and he only comes to knock you out so I thought right style for me to beat.

"If I win the next one I'm in the conversation for a fight with a legit world-class heavyweight. If I lose I'll have one last go at winning the British title then I'm done."

Allen has already lost to Yoka in June 2018, but the Frenchman who won via 10th-round stoppage in Paris was later banned for missing drugs tests.

Wallin is well known to Brits having fought — and lost against — Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and most recently Derek Chisora over the past six years. Those remain the only defeats of his 30-fight career.

The other two are undefeated with Canadian Barriere (12-0, 10 KOs ) and Hysa (23-0, 21 KOs), promoted by Queensberry, following his win at Portman Road on the undercard of Fabio Wardley's dramatic 10th-round knockout of Justis Huni in June.

Allen also lifted the lid on the situation with TKV. The two had been set to fight, but when the British Boxing Board of Control ordered TKV to face Frazer Clarke for the British heavyweight title instead, Allen says the deal broke down.

He said: “Me and TKV was agreed and was just waiting for the British title to be on the line but then the board ordered TKV-Clarke so it fell through at the final hurdle.”