Ben Whittaker vs. Conor Wallace Recap: Whittaker Survives Late Scare to Win IBF Eliminator
By Real Combat Media Boxing Editorial Staff
Birmingham, England, (October 3rd, 2026)–Ben Whittaker had to survive a frightening final round, but the unbeaten Olympic silver medallist did enough early to outpoint Conor Wallace by unanimous decision at Utilita Arena and lock in the IBF mandatory position at light heavyweight. The judges scored the IBF final eliminator 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113 for Whittaker, who also retained his WBC Silver title.
How the Fight Went
Whittaker (13-0-1, 9 KOs) controlled the first nine rounds. The 29-year-old used his footwork and jab to dictate the distance, went to the body and sprinkled in his trademark showboating while Wallace (17-2, 12 KOs), a southpaw who is Irish-born and now based in Australia, struggled to find his range and looked gun-shy at times. Whittaker was pitching a near shutout after nine rounds, but he never hurt Wallace badly and could not find the stoppage.
That changed in round 10. Wallace landed a heavy southpaw left that rocked Whittaker back on his heels and punished him for carrying his hands low. The pressure continued in the 11th, and the 12th was nothing like the rounds before it. Wallace badly hurt Whittaker, who spent much of the final three minutes grabbing, clinching and stumbling. He went to the canvas three times, twice pulling Wallace down with him, but the referee ruled none of them a knockdown. That decision became the biggest talking point of the night, with the traveling support from Northern Ireland roaring Wallace on. Whittaker made it to the final bell, and the cards reflected his early dominance, with the 115-113 score the closest.
Afterward, Whittaker admitted he took his eye off the ball once the fight got easy, saying he was playing too much and doing silly antics. Wallace acknowledged he started too late. Whittaker’s trainer, Andy Lee, said the fighter was sick with COVID in the final week of camp. Both camps welcomed a rematch, with Whittaker saying “we should do it again.”
What’s Next
The win makes Whittaker the IBF mandatory challenger for unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, who is expected to face Callum Smith in December. Promoter Eddie Hearn said Whittaker’s shot at the winner likely will not come until next summer, which means an interim fight is needed. Hearn said Whittaker would have been in position to move straight to Bivol or Smith had he looked sensational, and he left the door open to a Wallace rematch, saying “I am happy to make that fight.”
Undercard Highlights
Bilal Fawaz (13-1-1, 5 KOs) retained his British super welterweight title with an eighth-round stoppage of Eithan James (17-3). James was dropped by a straight right in the eighth, and a second knockdown ended the fight at 1:14.
Hamza Uddin (8-0, 5 KOs) became the new British and Commonwealth flyweight champion by stopping Sean Bruce (8-3) in round eight. Uddin put Bruce down three times, including twice in the fifth, before the referee stepped in at 2:49 of the eighth.
Liverpool’s Odel Kamara, a seven-time national amateur champion, made a winning professional debut by stopping Thodoris Ritzakis in round three. Ibraheem Sulaimaan (12-0, 5 KOs) kept his English super featherweight title with a unanimous decision over Sonny Hardy (12-1, 5 KOs) despite a point deduction for holding in round seven, though some ringside observers felt the fight was closer than the scores of 97-93 twice and 96-93.
On the preliminary card, Aaron Bowen (9-1, 6 KOs) won the Midlands Area super middleweight title by unanimous decision over Klinton Baptiste. Teenager Adam Maca (7-0, 6 KOs) stopped Rogger Rivera in round two, and Harley Burrows and Paige Murney also picked up wins.
Full Fight Card Results
Main Card
Light Heavyweight (IBF Final Eliminator, WBC Silver Title): Ben Whittaker (13-0-1, 9 KOs) def. Conor Wallace (17-2, 12 KOs) by unanimous decision (117-111, 116-112, 115-113)
Super Welterweight: Odel Kamara (1-0) def. Thodoris Ritzakis (5-6-1) by TKO (referee stoppage), Round 3, 2:53
Flyweight (British and Commonwealth Titles): Hamza Uddin (8-0, 5 KOs) def. Sean Bruce (8-3) by TKO (referee stoppage), Round 8, 2:49
Super Welterweight (British Title): Bilal Fawaz (13-1-1, 5 KOs) def. Eithan James (17-3) by TKO (second knockdown), Round 8, 1:14
Super Featherweight (English Title): Ibraheem Sulaimaan (12-0, 5 KOs) def. Sonny Hardy (12-1, 5 KOs) by unanimous decision (97-93, 97-93, 96-93)
Preliminary Card
Super Middleweight (Midlands Area Title): Aaron Bowen (9-1, 6 KOs) def. Klinton Baptiste (5-1) by unanimous decision (99-91, 99-92, 98-92)
Super Featherweight: Adam Maca (7-0, 6 KOs) def. Rogger Rivera (3-6, 2 KOs) by TKO (referee stoppage), Round 2, 2:56
Middleweight: Harley Burrows (3-0, 2 KOs) def. Matias Ezequiel Herrera (8-9-2, 5 KOs) by TKO (referee stoppage), Round 2, 1:24
Lightweight: Paige Murney (5-0) def. Linzi Buczynskyj (6-13) by points decision (38-37)
Watch
Ben Whittaker Beats Conor Wallace Despite Late Onslaught (Video via Matchroom Boxing)
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