Ben Whittaker's Next Fight: Hearn Names Three Options

Ben Whittaker's next fight will be one of three options after Eddie Hearn named Conor Wallace, Anthony Yarde, or the winner of Joshua Buatsi versus Willy Hutchinson as the candidates to face the British light heavyweight.

Whittaker survived a scare in Birmingham, needing a unanimous decision to get past Wallace in what was an IBF title eliminator. He controlled most of the rounds but got badly shaken in round ten, turning the closing minutes into a fight for survival rather than a victory lap. Hearn addressed the path forward in blunt terms after the final bell. "For me, no, he needs another fight. Now when I look at it, I think that's the [Joshua] Buatsi-[Willy] Hutchinson winner, that's [Anthony] Yarde, or it's Conor Wallace," Hearn said.

Why a Conor Wallace Rematch Makes the Most Sense

A second fight with Conor Wallace directly answers the question Whittaker left unresolved in Birmingham. Wallace already knows he can hurt Whittaker, and Whittaker already knows he can out-box Wallace when he keeps his composure. That tension is exactly what a rematch is built to test: can Whittaker hold his form under fire for a full twelve, or was round ten a preview of a bigger problem against better finishers.

Stepping straight into a fight with Joshua Buatsi or Willy Hutchinson would be a jump in class most trainers would want to avoid right now. Both carry real power and the ring experience to exploit exactly the kind of lapse Whittaker showed late against Wallace. Anthony Yarde remains a recognizable name in British boxing, but his stoppage losses to Artur Beterbiev and David Benavidez leave him without the standing to justify the risk his punching power still presents.

What This Means for the Betting Markets

A Wallace rematch sets up as the more bettable and more telling fight of the three options. Books would likely frame Whittaker as a solid favorite given his first-fight control through nine rounds, but the number won't carry the same confidence it would against a opponent who never previously touched him. Whittaker's ability to survive adversity, not just rack up rounds, is now the actual prop bettors and matchmakers alike need answered. A clean, dominant decision would set up a real market move toward him as a betting favorite in any future world title fight. Another shaky finish would do the opposite, and quickly.

Buatsi or Hutchinson, by contrast, would likely open with Whittaker as a live underdog or only a slight favorite given the eliminator stakes and the power each man carries, a tougher betting proposition for a fighter still searching for defensive answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is next for Ben Whittaker after beating Conor Wallace?

Eddie Hearn has named three possible next opponents for Ben Whittaker: a rematch with Conor Wallace, Anthony Yarde, or the winner of Joshua Buatsi versus Willy Hutchinson.

What happened in the Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace fight?

Ben Whittaker won a unanimous decision over Conor Wallace in Birmingham but was badly shaken in round ten, turning the closing rounds into a fight to survive.

Why does a Conor Wallace rematch make sense for Ben Whittaker?

A rematch with Conor Wallace would let Ben Whittaker prove he can maintain composure under pressure after being hurt late in their first fight, before he faces a bigger threat like Joshua Buatsi or Willy Hutchinson.