Whittaker Set For IBF Final Eliminator Against Wallace

Ben Whittaker faces Conor Wallace in an IBF heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight final eliminator on October 3 at Utilita Arena in Birmingham, with the winner set to become Dmitry Bivol's mandatory challenger.

The card streams on DAZN and marks Whittaker's first fight back in the UK since stopping Richard Rivera in two rounds at Barclays Center in June. Wallace, ranked No. 2 by the IBF and No. 16 by BoxRec, has built his career almost entirely in Australia, with a best win of a split decision over Jerome Pampellone in 2024. He's since beaten Asemahle Wellem, Dylan Colin and Walter Gabriel Sequeira, results that carry his ranking more than his résumé.

Critics have pointed out that bigger domestic tests were available for Whittaker, including Joshua Buatsi, Imam Khataev, Willy Hutchinson, Radivoje Kalajdzic, and Arlen Lopez — the Cuban who beat Whittaker in the Olympic gold medal final and would have offered a built-in revenge narrative.

Wallace's upright style is also seen as a favorable stylistic matchup for Whittaker, lacking the physicality Liam Cameron used to previously trouble him. A win would move Whittaker into IBF mandatory position and a fight with Bivol, though questions remain about how much a win over Wallace will reveal ahead of facing one of the division's most complete boxers.