Ben Whittaker offered WBC title shot by Willy Hutchinson after Conor Wallace win
New WBC champion Willy Hutchinson said he would gladly face Ben Whittaker, who is also in line to become the IBF's mandatory challenger to Dmitry Bivol after his eliminator win over Conor Wallace.
Post by @ringmagazine on X
Willy Hutchinson has said he would gladly defend his newly won WBC title against Ben Whittaker. That opens a possible route to a first world title fight for the Wolverhampton boxer, weeks after he beat Conor Wallace in a final eliminator last month.
The Wallace fight was for the right to become the IBF's mandatory challenger, with the winner positioned for a shot at unified champion Dmitry Bivol. Bivol defends his belts against Callum Smith on 12 December, and Whittaker, 29, could be called as the IBF's mandatory challenger after that fight. A meeting with Hutchinson is the alternative.
Hutchinson won the previously vacant WBC belt by unanimous decision against Joshua Buatsi. He had lost their first fight by split decision in 2024. Afterwards he went face-to-face with Anthony Yarde and expressed interest in fighting him, but he also named Whittaker as an opponent. Hutchinson said: “Where’s Quittaker at? He can get it as well. Massive fight!” The nickname refers to Whittaker's 2024 technical draw with Liam Cameron, when both men went over the top rope and Whittaker left the arena in a wheelchair. Whittaker stopped Cameron in the second round of their immediate rematch.
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