Ben Whittaker stars on Matchroom debut with stunning first round knockout
On a day Birmingham’s NEC was full of fantasy characters, Ben Whittaker proved he is very much the real deal with a stunning first round knockout of Benjamin Gavazi.
The Darlaston boxing star sent his German opponent to the canvas twice in the space of two minutes and 15 seconds, the second time with a brutal right-hand to end the light-heavyweight contest.
A comic convention next door meant fight fans travelled to the event through hordes of witches, wizards and warlocks, yet it was Whittaker who delivered magic in the ring in a stunning debut for Matchroom promotions.
The 28-year-old Olympic silver medallist had promised a punch perfect performance and truly delivered to claim the WBC silver crown.
Whittaker’s ring walk, which saw him accompanied by rapper Dizzee Rascal, lasted longer than the actual fight.
“When you walk out pretty like that, you have to back it up. That is what I did,” said Whittaker.
Gavazi had arrived with 19 straight wins since losing the first fight of his professional career in 2018.
But the 30-year-old was spent to the canvas for the first time when Whittaker caught him with a powerful right-hand.
He beat the count but survived only 30 seconds more. After being stunned by a left-hand, he was sent crashing down by Whittaker’s right and with his arms spread wide, referee Mark Bates immediately waved off the count.
“This was an opportunity for him to change his life,” said Whittaker. “But on Thursday he said he had nothing to lose, whereas I am a person with everything to lose.
"I wanted to show how special I am."
Whittaker improved his record to 10 wins from 11 fights, with his infamous draw against Liam Cameron the only blemish.
April's second round knockout of Cameron in the rematch had given a glimpse of Whittaker's power and he showed it in even more impressive fashion here, on a Matchroom debut which had been given the big sell by his new promoter.
Earlier in the evening, Rowley Regis’ Ebonie Cotton suffered the first defeat of her career despite submitting a performance full of heart against Molly McCann.
Cotton went in as a considerable underdog against McCann, Britain’s most successful female UFC fighter who is now targeting a world title in boxing.
But she gave the Liverpudlian everything she could handle through six bruising and bloody rounds.
Cotton, 31, sustained a nasty cut to the top of the head when the pair clashed in the fourth round but despite taking some big shots from her opponent, kept coming forward and landed a few of her own.
It wasn’t enough to win, with McCann taking the decision 58-56 from referee Ryan Churchill. Yet the Black Country fighter still emerged from just her second pro contest with no shortage of credit.
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