David Allen made his return to the ring last weekend and got a quick win.

The English heavyweight, from Doncaster, was in action in Malta.

Allen boxed on a Fightzone-aired card at the Hilton Hotel in Portomaso on Saturday which was promoted by Stephen Vaughan for Vaughan Group Malta in association with Fight Academy and Prize Boxing Promotion.

‘The White Rhino’  hung up the gloves in November 2020 at the age of just 28 after losing the desire ‘to get punched’ in the wake of a sparring session with Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk, a former undisputed world champion in the cruiserweight division, has since moved up to heavyweight and won the Ring Magazine, WBA Super, IBF, WBO and IBO world titles, beating fellow Olympic champion Anthony Joshua twice in the process.

Allen had been set to box at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane Stadium on February 18, but last-minute issues with his opponent meant that he was unable to do so.

Dennis Hobson, who heads up Fight Academy, worked quickly to add his man to the Malta show and put him in against Michael Bassett.

Bassett is now 2-9 after being taken out by Allen in double quick time.

“It was great to work with Dennis and Steve [Crump, of JJ Crump & Son] to get Dave on our show,” said promoter Stephen Vaughan.

Allen, who stormed out of the gates and landed two big overhands before working Bassett’s body and landing the right again, was delighted to get the fight over and done with and is looking forward to the next one.

“Mike and I had a conversation about how great it is being a Dad and we couldn’t wait to get home to our daughters and I wasn’t risking causing him any possible damage and today we’re both winners – we get to see our babies,” Allen, who was calling for the referee to save his opponent and halt proceedings, said in the aftermath. “It’s job done for me. I don’t want any praise, it’s just on to the next one.”