WHITTAKER FACES WALLACE IN BIRMINGHAM ELIMINATOR FOR BIVOL SHOT

Ben Whittaker will fight Conor Wallace at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on Saturday in a final eliminator for a potential shot at Dmitry Bivol's IBF light-heavyweight title. Whittaker, from Wolverhampton, is unbeaten and ranked third by the IBF, one place below his Australian-based opponent, who was born in Northern Ireland. The fight follows Whittaker's defence of his WBC Silver light-heavyweight title against Richard Rivera, which he won inside two rounds during his American debut in June. Whittaker won a silver medal at the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021 before turning professional.

Whittaker told BBC Midlands Today that taking the Wallace fight so soon after his last bout keeps him "on a roll". He said fighters at the top level tend to do similar things, and that the outcome comes down to game plan and ability, adding that he believes he has the edge in both. He said he has "left no stone unturned" in his preparation and that it is now down to him to perform on the night. A win would hand Wallace a second defeat as a professional.

The Birmingham bout will be Whittaker's fourth in the city and his first there since winning the WBC Silver title in November last year. He said being from the Midlands, despite having connections to several areas including West Bromwich, Wolverhampton and Darlaston, makes fighting there significant. Whittaker said the card also features other fighters from the Midlands, which he said gives them a platform and "opens the door" for them. Saturday's result will determine whether Whittaker advances towards a potential fight with Bivol.