'The White Rhino' is back in action this weekend, bidding to secure the biggest win of his career so far against Arslanbek Makhmudov live on DAZN.

Yet beneath the star on the bill at Sheffield's Utilita Arena, a slew of younger faces who have been mentored by Allen populate key spots.

The heavyweight has already spoken of his pride at offering mentorship to the next band of talented youngsters building their profiles.

Now, Smith has weighed in and, while the likes of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have dominated the top of the heavyweight rankings, he believes it is actually Allen and people such as Michael Conlan who have been key to ensuring continuity between the past and present.

"We want fighters to go to the level we believe they can go to," he exclusively told DAZN News. "They need those experienced voices.

"That's what you've got with the likes of Dave Allen around them. Michael Conlan, he's managing Junaid Boston. They've got the experience.

"They're able to take those fighters to that level and help them through that path. It's a hard sport, so to have good voices around you."

Watch Parker vs. Wardley live on DAZN

Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley fight on Saturday, October 25, to become the WBO mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk. Watch the fight and undercard live and exclusive on DAZN PPV.

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