Whittaker Holds On To Beat Wallace

Whittaker (13-0-1, 9 KOs), the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist from Darlaston, retained his WBC Silver light heavyweight title and secured the IBF mandatory position. Wallace (17-2, 12 KOs), a Northern Irish-born southpaw based in Brisbane, made him work hard to protect the lead he had built.

Whittaker controlled most of the first nine rounds before Wallace hurt him with a lead left to the chin in the tenth. Wallace’s success made the closing rounds increasingly difficult, although Whittaker steadied himself in the 11th.

In the 12th, Wallace hurt Whittaker badly and pressed for a stoppage. Whittaker repeatedly held and struggled to stay upright, with referee Kieran McCann separating the fighters as the home boxer tried to reach the bell. Several falls prompted questions about whether knockdowns should have been called, but none were officially recorded.