Being stripped of the World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight Gold World Title was mind boggling but perhaps it was a blessing in disguise according to Lennox ‘Too Sharp’ Allen.
Allen, who is scheduled to fight for the WBA Interim title next month, told this publication yesterday that once victorious, he will be the mandatory challenger to Callum Smith, the WBA Super Champion and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, the WBA World Champion.
Allen will match gloves on July 25 with Cuban/American, David Morrell Jr., for the interim championship.
“The interim title is a step above the Gold belt, the USA based Allen said yesterday. “They won’t be able to get around me, I will be the mandatory.”
A check on WBA’s official website showed that Russian Fedor Chudinov is now the Gold belt title holder. Chudinov and Allen were scheduled to fight last December but negotiations broke down and Chudinov subsequently fought and defeated Hassan N’jikam. He was later crowned the WBA Gold champion after Allen had begun negotiations to face Morrell in April. However, the fight was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. “The WBA went behind my back and stripped me, three or four months ago, I actually found out on social media,” Allen noted
The 35 year-old prize fighter said he was given no explanation for being stripped. “I didn’t have much of a reaction, this is a business and I understand it. They assured me the number one spot and a shot at the interim title and that is what I am focused on.” Allen disclosed that training camp “has been going well” and he hopes for no setbacks prior to the Morrell matchup.
