Ben Whittaker’s debut for Matchroom Boxing couldn’t have gone any better.
The Olympic medallist hadn’t left a lasting impression on fans after his first 10 fights under Boxxer, and the debacle of his ninth bout against Liam Cameron continues to fade. More displays like his spectacular first-round knockout of Benjamin Gavazi will only bring more people onto his side.
Granted, Gavazi — now on the wrong end of a knockout-of-the-year contender — was nowhere near Whittaker’s level, but the British light-heavyweight still produced another viral moment in a brief career already sprinkled with them.
Matchroom appear keen to take Whittaker across the Atlantic for his US debut next year. But who should the 28-year-old fight next? Boxing News looks at some possible options.
The winner of Craig Richards vs Dan Azeez
Promoter Eddie Hearn believes Whittaker is a future superstar and wants to build him “the right way.” That may mean Richards or Azeez is considered too risky an opponent for his twelfth fight.
Their bout takes place in Ghana on December 20 and most believe Richards will come through. The 35-year-old is at the veteran stage but showed a more spiteful side when he knocked out Padraig McCrory in March.
Azeez, a former European champion, looks tailor-made for Whittaker, who would be favoured against Richards as well — and a fighter of his pedigree and ability should be calling for opponents of that calibre. If such a move is deemed too soon for ‘The Surgeon’, then don’t expect too big a leap from Gavazi next time out.
Manuel Gallegos
The Mexican has mixed in good company across his last three fights, contested between super-middleweight and light-heavyweight. Diego Pacheco capitalised on his come-forward style, while the sole win in that run came in an upset against Khalil Coe — now a Matchroom stablemate of Whittaker’s.
Coe avenged the loss emphatically, but UK promoters love a yardstick and Gallegos fits the bill: a big enough step up to build belief, but not so big that Matchroom would hesitate.
Another eye-catching win for Whittaker could also help him raise his voice stateside, where rivals such as Coe may soon be in his crosshairs.
Lyndon Arthur
The new European light-heavyweight champion showed he had taken training seriously when he rolled back the years to relieve Bradley Rea of the title last month.
Arthur is 35 and no longer as elusive as he once was, but the pairing still offers plenty: Whittaker’s brash confidence and Arthur’s laid-back swagger would gel in the build-up, and the fight itself would be a compelling clash between two high-class operators — one rising, one climbing again in pursuit of another world title shot.
Beating Gavazi in the manner he did gives Whittaker credibility and momentum. He needed to impress in his Matchroom debut, and he did. But the progress should not now be overly cautious. This weekend’s demolition may be the cue to let Whittaker off the leash and spend 2026 strengthening his in-ring reputation against solid opposition before pushing for a world-title opportunity the following year.
