Ben Whittaker defeats Conor Wallace to secure IBF title eliminator win

Ben Whittaker secured a unanimous decision victory over Conor Wallace at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, winning the IBF light heavyweight title eliminator. The judges scored the bout 117-111, 116-112, and 115-113.

Whittaker dominated the first nine rounds with superior speed and movement. However, the fight shifted dramatically in the tenth round when Wallace landed heavy shots that visibly hurt Whittaker. In the final twelfth round, Whittaker struggled to stay upright, falling to the canvas three times, though the referee did not rule them knockdowns.

Whittaker’s trainer, Andy Lee, revealed that the fighter had been battling COVID-19 the week prior to the match. Whittaker attributed his late-round struggles to a lapse in concentration, stating the fight felt ‘too easy’ initially.

The win makes Whittaker the mandatory challenger for the IBF light heavyweight title, potentially setting up a future bout against champion Dmitry Bivol. Due to the close finish, promoter Eddie Hearn suggested Whittaker may require another fight, possibly a rematch with Wallace, before moving to a world title challenge.