Dave Allen-Thomas Carty Ends in Bizarre No Contest

Dave Allen's heavyweight bout with Thomas Carty ended in a no contest just 82 seconds into their fight at Croke Park on Saturday night, throwing Allen's plan to retire after 40 professional fights into confusion.

Allen caught Carty behind the head during a close exchange near the ropes. Carty tumbled through the ropes and out of the ring, landing in the ringside area with his foot tangled in a chair. He received medical attention and oxygen before officials ruled he could not continue.

Why Wasn't It Ruled a Knockout or Disqualification

The finish could not go into the books as a stoppage win for Allen because officials ruled the punch an accidental foul, not a legal blow. A disqualification was also off the table since that outcome requires the referee to view the foul as intentional. With zero completed rounds in the books, a technical decision was not an option either, leaving no contest as the only outcome available under the rules.

Trainer Jamie Moore, who worked Allen's corner, explained the sequence afterward despite his fighter's visible frustration in the ring. "He's gone to hit him in the side of the head. He's turned his head, he's hit him in the back of the head, and he's fallen out of the ring," Moore told IFL TV. "Dave can't win on an unintentional foul, but he can't lose either. So it's got to be a no contest. By the rules, they've done the right thing."

Moore had liked what he saw before the chaos hit. Carty worked behind his southpaw jab early, but Allen closed the distance faster than expected and started landing at close range, the kind of exchanges that tend to favor him. "I thought he hurt him a couple of times," Moore said. "I was over the moon with the way it was going up until that point. It was just over way too quickly to tell anything."

What This Means for Allen's 40-Fight Retirement Plan

Allen has one fight remaining under the 40-bout limit he's set for his own career, since the Carty bout still counts as his 39th pro fight even though nobody won. That leaves him with a decision to make. A rematch would settle a fight that ended before it really started, but it would also mean spending his planned final appearance on another crack at a live, awkward southpaw rather than chasing a bigger domestic payday to close out his career. Moore left the door open without committing either way. "He said he's having 40 fights and then he's done," Moore said. "That was fight 39, so he's got one more to do, and that's it. We'll see what happens."

Betting Angle

A rematch clause or voluntary run-back would be the more compelling betting proposition here, given how well Allen was working before the accidental foul intervened. Books and bettors alike got almost nothing to go on from 82 seconds of action, but the flashes of Allen closing distance and hurting Carty on the inside suggest he'd open as a live favorite if the two are matched again. Until Allen and his team confirm his 40th and final fight, there's no market to speak of. The next announcement, whether it's Carty again or a fresh opponent, will be the first real signal for oddsmakers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the Dave Allen vs Thomas Carty fight ruled a no contest?

Dave Allen's punch that sent Thomas Carty through the ropes was ruled an accidental foul rather than a legal blow, and with zero completed rounds a technical decision wasn't possible, leaving no contest as the only available result.

How many fights does Dave Allen have left before retirement?

Dave Allen has one fight remaining under his planned 40-fight career limit, since the no-contest result against Thomas Carty still counted as his 39th professional bout.

What happened to Thomas Carty in the fight against Dave Allen?

Thomas Carty was knocked through the ropes and out of the ring at Croke Park, got his foot tangled in a ringside chair, and was ruled unable to continue after receiving oxygen and medical attention.