British light-heavyweight boxer Ben Whittaker edged closer to a world-title opportunity after a hard-fought points victory over Conor Wallace in Birmingham. The 29-year-old showcased his flashy style and technical prowess throughout most of the fight at the Utilita Arena, but faced a fierce comeback from Wallace in the final rounds.
Wallace, hailing from Northern Ireland, landed a powerful blow in the tenth round and nearly pulled off a stunning reversal in the twelfth, forcing Whittaker to hold on until the end. The judges scored the bout 117-111, 116-112, and 115-113 in favor of Whittaker, who now becomes the mandatory challenger for the IBF world title.
Whittaker admitted, “It was too easy at points and I got a bit careless. He landed a strong punch, but that’s part of boxing. When the fight seemed comfortable, I played around too much.” The Olympic silver medalist improved his professional record to 13 wins and one draw, setting up a future clash with IBF champion Dmitry Bivol, who also holds the WBA ‘super’ and WBO belts and is expected to fight Liverpool’s Callum Smith in December.
Wallace, 30, recorded his second loss in 19 fights and immediately called for a rematch. Whittaker responded coolly, “If he wants a rematch and another beating, he can have it. If not, we’ll move forward.”
Making a grand entrance accompanied by a live string ensemble playing The Undertaker’s WWE theme followed by “Icon” by Karen, Whittaker received an equal mix of cheers and jeers from the approximately 5,000-strong crowd, despite being from nearby West Bromwich. The contest picked up in the third round when Whittaker caught Wallace with a shot that rattled his opponent. Meanwhile, Wallace’s travelling supporters made their presence felt, although their cheers were occasionally overshadowed by an airhorn brought into the arena.
Among the spectators were former UFC champion Leon Edwards and American Cassondra Gainey, who traveled nearly 4,000 miles from North Carolina, having found inspiration in Whittaker’s social media during her cancer treatment. Wallace showed signs of strength with a heavy left in round six, prompting trainer Andy Lee to warn Whittaker to stay focused and not get complacent.
The tenth round proved perilous for Whittaker when Wallace landed a solid southpaw left that visibly hurt him, and though Whittaker survived thanks to a warning against Wallace for punching on the break, Wallace kept pressing hard, turning what seemed like a sure win into a nail-biter. In the final round, Whittaker hit the canvas three times, none officially ruled knockdowns, as Wallace unloaded relentless attacks on a tiring foe.
Ultimately, Whittaker did enough to secure victory but acknowledged he could have done better, saying, “I only have myself to blame. I was supported tremendously, and it felt like a home fight even though it was in Birmingham.” Promoter Eddie Hearn welcomed the chance for a rematch and noted Whittaker would likely need to keep active while waiting for the winner of the Bivol-Smith bout, expected next summer.
In the undercard action highlighting domestic talent, Walsall’s Hamza Uddin and London’s Bilal Fawaz earned British title victories. Nigeria-born Fawaz, seeking British citizenship, stopped Eithan James in the eighth round to retain his British and Commonwealth light-middleweight titles, and after the win, he called out IBF world champion Josh Kelly and Conor Benn. Fawaz also received a £5,000 stoppage bonus offered by promoter Hearn.
Unbeaten at 23, Uddin dominated Sean Bruce, knocking him down twice in the fifth round with strong body and head shots before finishing him with a powerful right in the eighth. The referee halted the fight after Bruce rose on a nine count.
Rounding out the card, talented amateur Odel Kamara marked his pro debut with an impressive performance, dropping Greek opponent Thodoris Ritzakis in the first round before a somewhat early stoppage in the third. Hearn praised Kamara, calling him “a star for Liverpool and Britain,” predicting a bright future ahead.
Fan Take:
Whittaker’s narrow win and subsequent rise to mandatory challenger on the IBF world stage keeps the light-heavyweight division charged with excitement, offering fans high-stakes matchups on the horizon. Meanwhile, emerging domestic talents like Uddin and Kamara highlight the depth in British boxing, promising fresh rivalries and talent that could shape the sport’s future.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
