All eyes were on the flamboyant Ben Whittaker to deliver the coup d’etat on a Matchroom Boxing show that featured potential British super stars, but then Australia’s Conor Wallace nearly pulled the rug on Saturday.
Highly-ranked Whittaker (13-0-1) managed to hang on against Wallace (17-2), but in the process he lost some of that luster he had gained to win by unanimous decision over sturdy Wallace at Birmingham, England.
It was a game attempt by Matchroom Boxing to propel its young stars to the forefront but was nearly capsized.
Whittaker, whose immense talent that resembles that of a larger Prince Naseem Hamed, carefully built a lead over Wallace in their light heavyweight title elimination bout. For 10 rounds Whittaker used his speed, agility and power to keep the southpaw Aussie from mounting any kind of attack.
The rounds passed slowly like drying cement.
Though Wallace never seemed hurt by Whittaker at any moment, he always displayed a measurable amount of respect for Whittaker’s power. Urgency was not part of his personality until the final three rounds. Then Wallace began firing combinations.
Perhaps Whittaker had read his press clippings.
Suddenly the light heavyweight battle changed into high gear and punches were being exchanged. Whittaker was caught by a few blows and Wallace was inspired by the effect he was having. Fans were in shock. They were not accustomed to seeing the former Olympic silver medalist in trouble.
Wallace was finding success, but only a knockout would be sufficient to overcome the large lead built by Whittaker. Though the Aussie by way of Ireland showed tremendous mettle, it was not enough to win by decision. After 12 rounds, the judges saw it 117-111, 116-112, 115-113 for Whittaker.
The fighter known as “the Surgeon” will now face the winner of the Dmitrii Bivol and Callum Smith fight that takes place in December.
Other bouts
Highly touted Odel Kamara (1-0) made his pro debut with a third round stoppage over Greece’s very tough Thordoris Ritzakis (5-6-1) in a super welterweight contest. Liverpool’s Kamara is a seven-time national champion and exhibited speed and power in the three rounds. Ritzakis proved to be a very durable fighter, but after a sizzling right uppercut by Kamara the referee saw enough and stopped the one-sided contest.
Hamzah Uddin (8-0, 5 KOs) knocked out British flyweight titlist Sean Bruce (8-3) in the eighth round with a double right to the body and head. Uddin used his speed and accuracy to dominate the match, including two knockdowns in the fifth round.
The unorthodox style of Bilal Fawaz (13-1-1, 5 KOs) resulted in a knockout win over Eithan James (17-3) in the eighth round of their British super welterweight title fight. Fawaz dropped James in the eighth and then finished the job at 1:14 of the round with a three-punch combo for the 38-year-old.
Ibraheem Sulaimaan (12-0) used his speed and clean punches to defeat tough Sonny Hardy (12-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds and retain the British super featherweight title.
Super middleweight Aaron Bowen (9-1) used a consistent body attack to wear down and out-slug Klinton Baptiste (5-1) to win by unanimous decision after 10 rounds. The redhead Bowen picks up the British title.
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