British light-heavyweight Ben Whittaker has offered a reward for information after his house was burgled while he was out fighting.<\/p>\n
Whittaker completed a stunning first-round stoppage<\/a> of German Benjamin Gavazi in Birmingham on Saturday night, but arrived back at his house in Wednesbury, West Midlands, to find it had been ransacked.<\/p>\n “They even took my IBF belt – what are they going to do with that?” said the 28-year-old in a video on his Instagram account, external<\/a>, referring to the IBF International light-heavyweight title belt he won in June 2024. <\/p>\n “Highs and lows of sport. Come back… house has been burgled. But Wednesbury, I got a big, big reward. Find these people, let me know.”<\/p>\n Whittaker showed a window in his kitchen had been smashed, with the blinds hanging down. <\/p>\n West Midlands Police told BBC Sport: “We are investigating after a home was broken into in Wednesbury shortly after midnight today [Sunday] with property stolen.<\/p>\n “Anyone with any information is being asked to ring us on 101 quoting crime reference number 20\/459973\/25. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”<\/p>\n Whittaker is a rising star of the light-heavyweight division and was competing in his first fight under new promotor Matchroom.<\/a><\/p>\n He extended his professional record to 10 wins in 11 fights, the draw coming when he and Liam Cameron fell over the ropes.<\/a><\/p>\n The Wolverhampton-born fighter, who is known for his showboating and flashy style, turned professional in 2022, the year after winning an Olympic silver medal at the Tokyo Games.<\/p>\n