Ben Whittaker cruised through nine rounds in Birmingham against Conor Wallace before losing his footing in the fight and doing everything he could to hear the final bell.
Whittaker looked typically slick in the early rounds and was heading to a clear points victory, or even a late stoppage, with Wallace unable to impose himself.
That changed around round 10, when the hometown favourite began to get caught with shots he was slipping previously.
In the twelfth and final round, Whittaker was clinging on to Wallace at every opportunity, falling to the canvas and apparently desperate for the fight to end. Referee Kieran McCann has been criticised for not calling at least one knockdown.
Speaking post-fight on the DAZN broadcast, former world champion Tony Bellew said Whittaker “got away with one” and warned him that complacency will not be an option against the division’s top dogs.
“Not good enough. It’s quite simple, don’t play with your food. I think Ben Whittaker is possibly the most talented light-heavyweight in the world right now over six rounds. Hard to figure out, disciplined – I think he’s excellent for six rounds. And then he switches off and he makes mistakes.
“Of course it’s a problem. The better leveled you go to, they’re gonna get you. People out there are better and more ruthless than Conor Wallace.
“[Wallace] only has himself to blame … Why are you starting in round ten? You’ve just blown the biggest opportunity of your career … Ben Whittaker has got away with one tonight. Excellent survival skills.”
Despite Whittaker now being first in line for the winner of Dmitry Bivol vs Callum Smith, promoter Eddie Hearn made it clear in the aftermath that his charge needs one more at this level – perhaps a rematch with Wallace – before upping the competition.
