Ben Whittaker takes on Conor Wallace in a a 12-round IBF final eliminator, and Whittaker's WBC Silver belt is also on the line.
Ben Whittaker comes home tonight with a world title shot in sight. The West Bromwich light-heavyweight, Olympic silver medallist at Tokyo 2020, headlines at the Utilita Arena Birmingham against Newry-born, Australia-based Conor Wallace. The fight is a 12-round IBF final eliminator, and Whittaker's WBC Silver belt is also on the line.
The stakes are high. Promoter Eddie Hearn says the winner becomes mandatory challenger to whoever wins Dmitry Bivol vs Callum Smith in December. Whittaker has blown away his last four opponents inside two rounds. Wallace is ranked one place above him by the IBF and is on a 10-fight winning run.
Whittaker vs Wallace Odds
Whittaker vs Wallace Method of Victory Odds
| Selection | Best odds | Best at |
|---|---|---|
| Whittaker by KO, TKO or DQ | 1/3 | Spreadex, Ladbrokes, BetGoodwin, BetAhoy |
| Whittaker by decision | 5/1 | Betfair Sportsbook, Paddy Power, AK Bets |
| Wallace by KO, TKO or DQ | 12/1 | bet365, PricedUp, Sporting Index |
| Wallace by decision | 20/1 | bet365, Betfred, Spreadex, PricedUp, Sporting Index |
| Draw | 30/1 | Unibet |
Who's Favourite in Whittaker vs Wallace?
Whittaker is the heavy favourite at a best price of 1/8, which implies a chance of about 89%, and he's as short as 1/25. The bookmakers expect him to win early, with Whittaker by stoppage at 1/3 compared with 5/1 for him to win on points. The fight to finish inside six and a half rounds is 12/5.
Unbeaten at 12-0-1 with nine knockouts, Whittaker has looked sharper since joining Matchroom and trainer Andy Lee. He stopped Liam Cameron in two rounds in their rematch, then knocked out Benjamin Gavazi and Braian Suarez in the first round. On his US debut in June, he stopped Richard Rivera 27 seconds into the second round. "I know he's game. I know he's tough… It's his World Cup Final. But he's just a stepping stone for me and I've got to show that," Whittaker said this week.
Wallace is 15/2. The 30-year-old southpaw is 17-1 with 12 knockouts. His only loss, a majority decision to Leti Leti in 2021, was avenged with a sixth-round knockout. "The better the opponent, the better I perform," Wallace said. "You will see the best version of Conor Wallace on Saturday night."
What Time is Whittaker vs Wallace in the UK?
- Date: Saturday 3 October 2026
- Venue: Utilita Arena Birmingham
- Main card: 7pm BST
- Ring walks: expected around 10pm BST
- TV: DAZN, included with a subscription (not pay-per-view)
- Radio: BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 10pm
Both fighters made weight on Friday, Whittaker at 174.9lb and Wallace at 173.9lb.
Whittaker vs Wallace Undercard
- Bilal Fawaz vs Eithan James, British super-welterweight title
- Sean Bruce vs Hamza Uddin, British and vacant Commonwealth flyweight titles
- Ibraheem Sulaimaan vs Sonny Hardy, English super-featherweight title
- Odel Kamara vs Thodoris Ritzakis
- Klint Baptiste vs Aaron Bowen, Midlands Area super-middleweight title
- Adam Maca vs Rogger Rivera
- Harley Burrows vs Matias Ezequiel Herrera
- Paige Murney vs Linzi Buczynskyj
Whittaker vs Wallace Prediction
Whittaker has the hand speed, the momentum and the home crowd, and the odds reflect it. But Wallace has never been stopped, he has gone 12 rounds before and he's a rangy southpaw who works behind the jab. Whittaker's recent opponents folded early; Wallace is likely to be a sterner test, and Whittaker has never gone past 10 rounds.
Whittaker should win, but the 1/3 for a stoppage is short against a durable opponent who has never been stopped. Whittaker by decision at 5/1 is the bigger-price angle if Wallace takes him into the later rounds.
