Dave Allen Calls Both Fury and Joshua ‘Monsters’ – But the Name He Chooses as the Harder Hitter Could Ignite a Boxing Civil War!
When a fighter who has been inside the ropes with the very best opens up, fans listen. That is exactly what happened this week when British heavyweight Dave Allen, known as The White Rhino, made a bold claim about who punches harder between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. After years of sparring with both men — and even taking shots from Oleksandr Usyk — Allen has finally put an end to one of the sport’s most debated questions. His answer surprised many, and it’s already igniting new debates across the boxing world.

Allen’s Resume: Why His Opinion Matters
In boxing, not every opinion carries the same weight. Dave Allen’s certainly does. The Doncaster-born heavyweight has faced a long list of big names: Luis Ortiz, Dillian Whyte, David Price, and more. He has wins over Lucas Browne, Nick Webb, and most recently Johnny Fisher. But what makes his view truly unique is his sparring history. Behind closed doors, Allen has gone rounds with Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Oleksandr Usyk — three of the biggest names in modern heavyweight boxing. Few fighters alive today can say they’ve traded blows with all three. That’s why fans leaned in when Allen finally revealed the truth.
Usyk, Joshua, or Fury: The Big Question
Over the past decade, heavyweight boxing has revolved around a “Big Three”: Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Oleksandr Usyk. Each man brings something different.
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Joshua: explosive power, 25 knockouts in 28 wins.
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Usyk: technical genius, who famously battered Allen so badly in sparring that Allen admitted to suffering a concussion and briefly retiring.
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Fury: sheer size and unpredictability, with 24 knockouts in 34 wins, combined with one of the slickest skill sets ever seen at heavyweight.
So when Matchroom Boxing asked Allen to pick who hit hardest, many expected him to say Joshua — the man known for flattening opponents early. Others thought Usyk might get the nod, given how badly he hurt Allen in sparring. But Allen shocked fans by going in a different direction.
Allen Chooses Tyson Fury
Yes, you read that right. Allen placed Tyson Fury at the top of his list, above both Joshua and Usyk. According to Allen, Fury’s power isn’t just about knockout punches. It’s the heaviness of every shot, the weight behind every jab, the sheer physicality of being hit by a 6’9”, 270-pound man who knows exactly how to transfer his mass into a punch.

This is not the Fury most casual fans talk about. For years, critics accused “The Gypsy King” of being a slick, defensive boxer who lacked one-punch power. His ability to frustrate opponents, not flatten them, was his reputation. But Allen’s experience tells a different story. Behind the scenes, Fury hits hard enough to be considered the most punishing of the trio.
Why Not Joshua?
Joshua has built his career on highlight-reel knockouts. His stoppage of Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, his demolition of Dillian Whyte in 2015, and his quick finishes of fighters like Alexander Povetkin and Kubrat Pulev showcase his explosive arsenal. So why did Allen overlook him?
The answer may lie in the difference between fight-night knockouts and sparring power. Joshua’s best weapon has always been his ability to capitalize on openings. His right hand is fast, sharp, and devastating. But in sparring, where fighters often work on technique rather than finishing, that explosiveness can feel less overwhelming than the constant, grinding pressure of Fury’s weighty shots.
It’s a reminder that “power” in boxing isn’t always about the cleanest KO — sometimes it’s about the accumulated force that wears you down.

What About Usyk?
Many fans still recall Allen’s own admission that sparring Usyk nearly ended his career. Usyk’s accuracy, timing, and precision left Allen dazed, concussed, and on the edge of walking away from boxing altogether. That experience alone would make most assume Usyk is the hardest hitter of the three. But Allen’s latest comments clarify something important: Usyk didn’t rely on raw power. His punches landed so cleanly, so perfectly, that the damage piled up. In Allen’s words, Fury’s shots felt like the heaviest, while Usyk’s were the sharpest.
Fury’s Resume: Power Underrated?
If Allen is right, maybe the boxing world has been underestimating Fury’s power for years. Look back at his resume:
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He stopped Deontay Wilder twice — the same Wilder widely regarded as the hardest puncher in boxing history.
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He demolished Derek Chisora in their trilogy fight, leaving Chisora unable to compete.
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He knocked down Otto Wallin, Dillian Whyte, and Tom Schwarz with single, heavy blows.
What makes Fury unique is not just raw power, but the way he mixes it with ring IQ. He knows how to lean on opponents, sap their energy, and then deliver crushing punches when they’re most vulnerable. Allen’s testimony only strengthens the case that Fury’s reputation as “not a puncher” is a myth.
The State of the Heavyweight Division
Allen’s comments come at a fascinating time for the heavyweight division. Fury recently lost two razor-thin decisions to Oleksandr Usyk, leaving him temporarily retired — or so he claims. Joshua, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since being knocked out in five rounds by Daniel Dubois at Wembley last September. Usyk is now widely recognized as the pound-for-pound king, but fans are still clamoring for the dream matchup: Fury vs Joshua.
Allen’s verdict adds fuel to that fire. If Fury truly hits harder than Joshua, then what happens when they finally meet? Would Joshua’s chin — already cracked by Andy Ruiz Jr. and Dubois — be able to withstand Fury’s shots? Or would Joshua’s explosiveness and sharper finishing ability turn the tables? The public wants answers.
Dave Allen’s Next Chapter
For Allen himself, the story isn’t over. He returns to the ring on October 11 at Sheffield Arena against Arslanbek Makhmudov, one of the most dangerous rising heavyweights in the world. A victory would be massive. Not only could it reestablish Allen as a contender, but it might also put him on a collision course with Anthony Joshua down the line. Imagine the irony: the man who once sparred Joshua might face him in a real fight — with far more at stake.

Why Fans Care About Allen’s Opinion
There’s a reason Allen’s comments are going viral. Boxing fans are obsessed with one simple, age-old debate: Who hits harder? Behind-the-scenes sparring stories often give us glimpses we’ll never see under the bright lights. That’s why Allen’s testimony is priceless. He’s not a promoter, he’s not trying to sell tickets. He’s a fighter who has been in there, felt the punches, and lived to tell the tale. When he says Fury hits hardest, people take notice.
Conclusion: A Debate That Won’t End Soon
So, did Dave Allen just rewrite the narrative? For years, the boxing community has argued over Joshua’s explosive knockout power, Usyk’s precision, and Fury’s supposed lack of finishing ability. Allen’s verdict flips that script. According to him, Tyson Fury’s punches are the ones you don’t forget.
Whether fans agree or not, the debate rages on. What’s certain is that the heavyweight division is alive with intrigue. Fury may be retired, Joshua is seeking redemption, Usyk is at the top of the mountain, and fighters like Dubois and Makhmudov are knocking on the door. In the middle of it all, Dave Allen — The White Rhino — has given fans exactly what they love: a bold opinion that sparks conversation.
And here’s the truth: until Fury and Joshua finally settle it in the ring, we’ll never have a definitive answer. But for now, Allen’s words are enough to keep the boxing world buzzing.


