Burglars steal boxer Ben Whittaker's IBF belt in break-in - Darlaston star offers 'big, big reward'
Boxing star Ben Whittaker's house was burgled while he was out delivering a first-round knockout on his Matchroom debut, the Darlaston fighter has revealed.
Whittaker, 28, knocked out opponent Benjamin Gavazi in just 135 seconds at Birmingham’s NEC on Saturday night (November 29) to win the WBC silver title - but returned to his Wednesbury home to find it had been ransacked.
In a video posted to his Instagram Whittaker said the burglars had smashed a window, and even taken the IBF International light-heavyweight title belt he won in June last year.
In the same video he offered a "big, big reward" for information that could help catch the culprit.
"Come back, house has been burgled but Wednesbury, I've got a big, big reward," he said.
"They even took my IBF belt - what are they going to do with that?"
West Midlands Police told BBC Sport: "We are investigating after a home was broken into in Wednesbury shortly after midnight today [Sunday] with property stolen.
"Anyone with any information is being asked to ring us on 101 quoting crime reference number 20/459973/25. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."
Whittaker is expected to make his USA debut early in the new year before returning to the UK, with a potential domestic dust-up with the winner of next month’s clash between Craig Richards and Dan Azeez mooted.
Just 11 fights into his professional career, Whittaker has already been called out by WBC champion David Benavidez, with coach Andy Lee predicting the Olympic silver medallist will be among the top-five in the world within the next 18 months.
