BIRMINGHAM — Ben Whittaker survived a late surge from Conor Wallace to secure a points victory at the Utilita Arena, earning his position as the mandatory challenger for the IBF light-heavyweight world title. The judges scored the contest 117-111, 116-112, and 115-113 in favor of the 29-year-old, who extended his unbeaten professional record to 13 wins and one draw.
Whittaker controlled the early proceedings with superior boxing skill, but the momentum shifted in the championship rounds. Wallace rocked the home fighter in the 10th and applied significant pressure in the 12th, forcing Whittaker to hold on until the final bell. "It was too easy and I took my eye off the ball a little bit. He caught me with a good shot but that's boxing," Whittaker said following the bout.
The victory positions Whittaker to face the winner of the upcoming bout between IBF champion Dmitry Bivol and Callum Smith. Promoter Eddie Hearn noted that while the title opportunity is expected for next summer, Whittaker will likely require an interim fight. Wallace, 30, who suffered the second defeat of his 19-fight career, expressed interest in a rematch.
The undercard featured notable performances, including Bilal Fawaz, who retained his British and Commonwealth light-middleweight titles by stopping Eithan James in the eighth round. Additionally, 23-year-old Hamza Uddin moved to 8-0 after dropping Sean Bruce twice in the fifth, while debutant Odel Kamara secured a third-round stoppage victory over Thodoris Ritzakis.