Ben Whittaker Faces Conor Wallace In IBF Final Eliminator

Ben Whittaker fights Conor Wallace on October 3 in Birmingham in an IBF heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight final eliminator, billed as a step up but drawing scrutiny over how he got there.

Whittaker, 29, struggled with domestic-level Liam Cameron before winning their rematch, and his two-round stoppage of 35-year-old Richard Rivera in June ended before he had to make any real adjustments. He now sits one win from a mandatory position without having beaten an established contender, with Matchroom opting for the available IBF route over tougher names like Anthony Yarde or Joshua Buatsi.

Wallace, ranked above Whittaker by the IBF, is an Australian-based southpaw who has yet to fight outside Australia and owns a split-decision win over Jerome Pampellone. His best path is to close the distance, work the body, and force Whittaker into a pace he doesn't control, testing his discipline over speed and showmanship. A slow start in Birmingham could leave Wallace needing to take risks late.