BEN WHITTAKER BEATS CONOR WALLACE TO TOP IBF RANKINGS

Ben Whittaker beat Conor Wallace by unanimous decision in an IBF light-heavyweight title eliminator at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, with judges scoring the contest 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113, according to reports of the fight. Wallace entered the bout as a significant underdog. The win puts Whittaker at the top of the IBF's light-heavyweight rankings, reports said. Whittaker dominated for much of the fight using his trademark movement and showboating, but Wallace rallied in the later rounds. The closing stages saw Whittaker repeatedly clinch and fall to the canvas as he held on to secure the points win.

Former super-middleweight world champion George Groves, analysing the fight on his YouTube channel, said Whittaker "was completely gone" and "holding on for dear life" in the final round, adding that he was surprised the referee did not score it as a knockdown. Groves said the performance raised questions over Whittaker's conditioning, stamina and punch resistance, and questioned whether his flashy style takes more out of him than it should. He said Wallace could not match Whittaker's hand speed but "was punching with him" throughout. Separately, Whittaker's trainer Andy Lee said the fighter had suffered from COVID-19 in the week before the bout and had been confined to bed, saying "this man had COVID last week. He was in bed." Details of when and how Whittaker contracted the virus, and any treatment, were not given.

Promoter Eddie Hearn did not rule out a rematch between Whittaker and Wallace after both fighters expressed interest in fighting again, according to reports. Lee said he was certain a rematch would happen. The win follows Whittaker's previous fight, against Liam Cameron in October 2024, which ended in a contentious draw after Whittaker suffered an ankle injury during a clash that saw him fall out of the ring. Whittaker, an Olympic silver medallist, has no prior record of withdrawing from or fighting through illness before, reports noted. No date has been confirmed for any future bout.