Ben Whittaker is hoping to ignite a stop-start professional career when he faces Benjamin Gavazi in Birmingham on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
The 10-round light heavyweight clash is nominally for the vacant WBC Silver title and marks Whittaker’s debut under Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom banner.<\/p>\n
The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist has navigated his career so far with Boxxer, the Ben Shalom-fronted operation which launches its new broadcast deal with the BBC <\/a>on the same night as Whittaker vs. Gavazi.<\/p>\n That’s an entertaining subplot on the promotional side, but the imperative is for the 28-year-old Whittaker (9-0-1, 6 KOs) to make good on his obvious potential.<\/p>\n The standard of his opposition and the frequency of his activity since his July 2022 professional debut have been a source of criticism for the skilful showboater. After joining up with trainer Andy Lee for the decisive conclusion to his two-fight series with Liam Cameron, Whittaker must put his foot down against Gavazi (19-1, 13 KOs), who is unbeaten since a points loss on debut seven years ago.<\/p>\n On the undercard, a simmering domestic grudge must be settled, regional titles are on the line and an ex-UFC star takes the next step of a boxing journey.<\/p>\n MORE: A three-step guide – Paddy Power’s sign up offer explained<\/a><\/p>\n Ben Whittaker. vs. Benjamin Gavazi undercard\u00a0<\/p>\n Here’s a breakdown of all the action\u00a0on the Whittaker vs. Gavazi card:<\/p>\n Cameron Vuong vs. Gavin GwynneDivision\/Weight: LightweightVuong record: 9-0Gwynne record: 18-4-1Belts at stake: N\/A<\/p>\n Vuong was awarded a narrow and hotly disputed split-decision win over Gwynne in Birmingham 12 months ago on the Galal Yafai vs. Sunny Edwards undercard<\/a>.<\/p>\n A return has felt inevitable since then. Vuong has settled another grudge with Jordan Flynn via an emphatic seventh-round stoppage before a tickover against journeyman Reuquen Cona Facundo Arce.<\/p>\n Former European champion Gwynne was ringside to lambast his rival afterwards that night, although a solitary six-rounder marks the veteran Welshman’s only action of the intervening period.<\/p>\n Aaron Bowen vs. Tom CowlingDivision\/Weight: MiddleweightBowen record: 7-0Cowling record: 14-1Belts at stake: BBBofC Midlands Area title<\/p>\n The heavy-handed Bowen comes into this one following back-to-back stoppages and has five career stoppages overall.<\/p>\n That’s one more than Cowling, who has banked a couple of tick-over wins since his narrow loss to Troy Coleman when he fought for this belt last September.<\/p>\n Ibraheem Sulaimaan vs. Nico OgbeideDivision\/Weight: Super FeatherweightSulaimaan\u00a0record: 9-0Ogbeide record: 6-1-1Belts at stake: BBBofC Midlands Area title<\/p>\n Suliamaan is swifty back out after a shutout triumph over James Chereji on the Dave Allen vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard<\/a> last month.<\/p>\n The 24-year-old southpaw is the favourite heading into this Birmingham derby against Ogbeide, who fell short in his first bid to win the Midlands Area belt against Brandon Bethell in June.<\/p>\n Zelfa Barrett vs. Liam DillonDivision\/Weight: LightweightBarrett record: 33-3Dillon record: 15-4-1Belts at stake: N\/A<\/p>\n Former super featherweight world title challenger Barrett makes his third outing at lightweight against Dillon, who has lost his past two in good company.<\/p>\n The 29-year-old Londoner gave a good account of himself when contesting the vacant European super lightweight title against the undefeated Pierce O’Leary at Portman Road before Fabio Wardley’s stunning KO of Justis Huni<\/a>.<\/p>\n A final eliminator for the British lightweight title versus the similarly unblemished Ahmed Hatim also went against Dillon, but there is clearly no consideration of a rebuild job as he jumps in against a fighter of Barrett’s calibre.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Manchester boxer saw his momentum stall after a stunning 10th-round stoppage of Jordan Gill<\/a> in April 2024. Barrett spent a year out of the ring before a frustrating loss to the wily Jazza Dickens persuaded him to leave super featherweight behind and join up with trainer Joe Gallagher.<\/p>\n Molly McCann vs. Ebonie CottonDivision\/Weight: Super BantamweightMcCann record: 1-0Cotton record: 1-0Belts at stake: N\/A<\/p>\n Former UFC favourite McCann enjoyed an eventful debut on the Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan 2<\/a> undercard, stopping Kate Radomska in the fifth of a scheduled six rounds.<\/p>\n Cotton, who began her boxing career in Australia with a handful of amateur and white collar fights, has an identical professional record, although McCann’s vast fight sports experience is the decisive point of difference.<\/p>\n Alfie Middlemiss vs. Engel GomezDivision\/Weight: FeatherweightMiddlemiss record: 4-0Gomez record: 9-53-3Belts at stake: N\/A<\/p>\n Jamie Moore-trained youngster Middlemiss will round off his first year as a professional with a fifth four-round encounter.<\/p>\n The 22-year-old former actor has not lost a round and will hope to score a first stoppage against Slovakia-based Nicaraguan Gomez.<\/p>\n Ben Whittaker. vs. Benjamin Gavazi\u00a0tune-in infoDate: Saturday, November 29, 2025Location: National Exhibition Centre, BirminghamTime: 5\u00a0p.m.\u00a0Main event start time (approx.):\u00a010 p.m.Live stream: DAZN<\/a><\/p>\n