Whittaker beats Wallace to win IBF eliminator

Ben Whittaker defeated Conor Wallace by unanimous decision in Birmingham on October 3, winning an International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-heavyweight eliminator and becoming mandatory challenger for the winner of Dmitry Bivol’s planned bout with Callum Smith. Whittaker also retained his WBC Silver title. The judges scored the 12-round contest 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113 for Whittaker at the Utilita Arena. He controlled much of the fight, building an advantage through the opening nine rounds with movement and accurate boxing. Wallace, a southpaw, began landing more effectively in the 10th and pressed Whittaker hard in the final round. Wallace’s late attack left Whittaker struggling to stay upright. Whittaker fell several times during the round, but no knockdowns were officially recorded. The late surge was not enough to overcome the lead Whittaker had established earlier, and Wallace acknowledged afterward that he had started his push too late. Whittaker said he had taken his eye off the ball because the fight felt too easy, and that he had been playing around.