Dave Allen’s heavyweight clash with Thomas Carty at Croke Park ended in a bizarre no contest after the Irish favourite fell out of the ring during the first round. The chief support for Katie Taylor’s final fight before retirement was over after just 82 seconds with Carty – seeking the biggest win of his 12-bout career – unable to continue. Allen caught Carty on the back of the head with a clubbing right hand and the Dublin southpaw tumbled through the ropes as much through momentum as the shot itself and onto the floor, where he was laid on his back. After receiving medical attention – including oxygen for several minutes – Carty then walked back to the changing room and the fight was abandoned.
Allen, a 34-year-old journeyman from Doncaster, looked as bemused as the 80,000 crowd at the way the fight had ended. The Irish fans booed as replays were shown on the giant screens and Allen was filmed saying: “That’s one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen in my life.” Neither fighter spoke to the media immediately after the strange conclusion.
