Ben Whittaker's opponent revealed for major Birmingham boxing show
Darlaston boxing star Ben Whittaker will face German opposition when he makes his much-anticipated return to the ring next month.
Whittaker will fight for the first time since his high-profile move to Matchroom Promotions when he tops the bill at Birmingham’s NEC on Saturday, November 29.
The Tokyo 2020 silver medallist takes on Benjamin Gavazi for the vacant WBC silver light heavyweight title, in what his new promoter has described as a “major” step-up in class.
Gavazi has won 19 straight fights since losing on his professional debut seven years ago, 13 of them inside the distance.
Whittaker, who at 28 is two years younger than his opponent, will be in action for the first time since April when he stopped Liam Cameron in the second round of their re-match.
That victory breathed new life into a pro career which appeared vulnerable after last October’s controversial draw between the pair, when the Black Country fighter faced accusations of having “quit” following a bizarre episode which saw both men go over the top rope and out of the ring.
Whittaker hopes his move to Matchroom will now put him on the path to world titles.
Matchroom chairman, Eddie Hearn, said: “Ben Whittaker is the greatest signing any promoter in the world could have made.
“And he levels up from the get-go with a major title shot in front of his home fans in Birmingham on what is another unmissable card, stacked with huge fights.”
Whittaker’s switch from Boxxer, the promoter with whom he began his professional journey, has not been short of hype.
He will officially be unveiled as a Matchroom fighter at a press conference in London on Friday.
Alfie Sharman, vice-president of broadcaster DAZN, said the Birmingham show would be a “massive moment for the sport”.
There will be some scrutiny on the standard of his opponent. Gavazi might have won twice as many fights as Whittaker but the majority have been over short distances. Only twice has he fought outside Germany.
Yet the presence of the WBC silver belt offers the chance to quickly climb the rankings of that governing body and lay the foundations for bigger fights ahead.
Wolverhampton’s reigning British welterweight champion Conah Walker, meanwhile, will finish his year in Monte Carlo on Matchroom’s annual Christmas show on the French Riviera.
Walker will face Whittaker’s former Team GB team-mate, Pat McCormack, on December 6, with the latter’s WBA international belt on the line.
