Boxing

Ben Whittaker is prepared to play in America: ‘The Yankees will love him’

Published

10 months ago

December 1, 2025

When Ben Whittaker entered the ring with rapper Dizzee Rascal in Birmingham on Saturday, you got the impression that the audience didn’t quite know what to make of it all.

But Birmingham, a tough, tough, working-class English city notable for its role in the Industrial Revolution and, more recently, its setting, better get used to the fact that they have a flashy, flashy superstar on their doorstep.

Whittaker (10-0-1, 7 KO) knows not everyone is to his liking – even promoter Eddie Hearn admitted he wasn’t sure he liked him at first – and he loves it.

What you can’t argue with is the brutal knockout of Benjamin Gavazi, an experienced guy who was supposed to give him the round but didn’t last three minutes.

However, boxing fans are challenging to please.

Warriors must have it all. If you talk a lot, you better justify it. If you can fight but have no personality, you better get it.

Whittaker has both in the package, and the right hand he unleashed on Gavazi showed people he can punch as well as he says. The opponents will get tougher, but he’s 11 fights into his career and Hearn knows where he wants to take him next.

This almost mythical promised land for all British fighters.

The truth is that as much as Whittaker loves the British fans and fights at home, he is tailor-made for America, where they love and embrace the showman rather than cut him off at the knees. Confirmation that Hearn had signed a bona fide star in the family business came from his daughter.

“You signed Ben Whittaker? He’s so cold… He’s ailing!” She excitedly informed her father.

“Please name me another player in the UK who could get a reaction from a crowd like that,” Hearn told ESPN.

“The Yankees will love him for sure. A lot of Americans will boo him, by the way, but that’s all.”

The promoter’s challenge now is to match him against tough enough opponents while not moving too quick.

Either way, America is calling.

Ideally, Hearn would like the Briton to be on the Jaron Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz fight card in the first half of next year, if that fight happens and Las Vegas is the target.

Whittaker is also aware of the path he is already on.

“If you want to build a star like me, you have to take your time,” he said. His post-fight comments were a mix of knowing there was still work to be done, but with his trademark pride.

As he said in the ring, “Damn, I looked good.”

Boxing

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Scorecard Analysis: Key Highlights and Insights

Published

6 hours ago

September 26, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Scorecard Analysis: Key Highlights and Insights"

World Boxing News provides a round-by-round scorecard as Johnny Fisher faces Michael Pirotton at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Fisher and Pirotton collide over ten rounds at heavyweight as Zuffa Boxing stages its latest card in the United Kingdom.

The Romford Bull returns to action with Pirotton standing in his way as the British heavyweight looks to continue his climb.

WBN provides a live scorecard of the contest below, plus live results throughout the event.

Fisher vs Pirotton Scorecard

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton

(Round-by-round scorecard will refresh every 2 mins)

Heavyweight
Copper Box Arena, London
10×3

Round	Fisher	Pirotton
Round 1	10	9
Round 2	10	9
Round 3	9	10
Round 4	9	10
Round 5	10	9
Round 6	10	9
Round 7	10	9
Round 8	10	9
Round 9	10	9
Round 10	10	9
WBN Totals:	98	92

Official Result: FISHER MD – 98-92, 96-95, 95-95

Preview

Fisher faces Pirotton in the first fight of his lucrative deal with Dana White and Zuffa Boxing.

The Briton enters the contest with a 14-1 record, while Pirotton brings a 12-2 record into the Zuffa Boxing 11 bout.

The event is available live on Sky in the United Kingdom and Paramount+.

The Fisher vs Pirotton event unfolds alongside more live coverage on World Boxing News.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Boxing

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Results: Latest Fight Outcome and Highlights

Published

10 hours ago

September 26, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Results: Latest Fight Outcome and Highlights

World Boxing News provides results and updates as Johnny Fisher faces Michael Pirotton on Zuffa Boxing 11 at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Fisher returns to heavyweight action over ten rounds against Pirotton as part of Zuffa Boxing’s latest event in the United Kingdom.

Craig Richards faces Radivoje Kalajdzic at light heavyweight, while Lee Cutler takes on Louis Greene and Cesar Mateo Tapia faces Leo Ruiz at middleweight.

WBN provides results and updates from every bout as they happen.

Results

All times are local BST.

23:41

Johnny Fisher defeated Michael Pirotton by majority decision after ten competitive heavyweight rounds at the Copper Box Arena. WBN scored the fight 98-92 for Fisherwhile the official judges returned scores of 98-92 and 96-95 for Fisher, with the third scoring it 95-95.

22:42

Radivoje Kalajdzic improved to 31-3 with a unanimous decision over Craig Richards, who dropped to 20-5-1 after a good ten-round scrap. Both men had their moments and hurt each other at times before “Hot Rod” got the verdict on the scorecards, which included knocking Richards down for the first time in his career.

21:43

Lee Cutler carded a unanimous decision win over Louis Greene in their ten-round middleweight clash. Judges scorecard 98-92 and 97-93 twice in favor on Cutler, who improves to 17-2.

20:52

Ahead of the three main bouts, Zuffa’s only female fighter, Kayla Allendefeated Edina Kiss via TKO in their super lightweight bout.

20:32

Leo Ruiz overcame Cesar Tapia over 10 rounds at middleweight, scoring a unanimous decision to move to 18-1 as Ruiz Tapia suffered a first loss.

19:29

Alex MacMillan moved to 5-0 with a second-round stoppage of Guillaume Azagier, who went down twice in the opening round and again before the finish at 0:32 of the second.

18:40

Rogelio Romero improved to 7-0 with a third-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Aurel Ignat, ending the cruiserweight contest at 2:12.

18:24

Alexis De la Cerda improved to 10-0 with a unanimous decision over Cain Lewis, taking the eight-round contest 80-72, 79-74 and 79-73.

17:42

Fred Pullen marked his professional debut with a four-round points victory over Leonardo Faretina, who was dropped in the second round.

Remaining Bouts

Johnny Fisher vs. Michael Pirotton — 10 rounds, heavyweight

Craig Richards vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic — 10 rounds, light heavyweight

TV Coverage

The event is available live on Sky in the United Kingdom and Paramount+.

Follow WBN’s live boxing coverage throughout the event.

About the Author

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Boxing

Davies vs Collins & Heaney vs Warburton II Results: Full Fight Recap

Published

11 hours ago

September 26, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Davies vs Collins & Heaney vs Warburton II Results: Full Fight Recap"

World Boxing News provides results and updates as Liam Davies faces Nathaniel Collins in the main event at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham.

Davies and Collins collide over 12 rounds for the EBU European featherweight title at the top of the Queensberry Promotions card.

Luke McCormack faces Kay Prospere for the vacant British super lightweight title, while Bradley Goldsmith takes on Amir Abubaker for the IBF International middleweight title.

WBN provides results and updates from every bout as they happen.

Results

All times are local BST.

23:11

Gerome Warburton defeated Nathan Heaney for the second time running as the middleweight put an exclamation mark on his first victory.

Heaney walks away from the sport having been an entertainer through a long carer, without reaching the heights of a world title.

22:04

Liam Davies improved to 19-1 after Nathaniel Collins retired at the end of the seventh round due to a cut over his right eye. Collins had also been dropped in the opening round as Davies successfully defended the European featherweight title.

21:22

Bradley Goldsmith improved to 17-1 with a seventh-round stoppage of Amir Abubaker to retain his IBF International middleweight title. Abubaker went down in the fourth and three times in the seventh before the finish at 2:42.

20:10

Lewis Richardson improved to 3-0 with a shutout six-round points victory over Ivan Trofimovich, earning a 60-54 decision.

19:56

Luke McCormack moved to 6-0 and claimed the vacant British super lightweight title with a tenth-round knockout of Kay Prospere, who was counted out after a right uppercut at 1:28.

18:55

Michael Hussain moved to 5-0 with a four-round points victory over Nabil Ahmed, earning a 39-38 decision.

18:11

Nelson Birchall moved to 12-0 with a third-round stoppage of Lewis Morris, who went down before the finish came at 1:12. Lasha Guruli also remained unbeaten at 5-0 after edging Hughie Wilson 77-75 over eight rounds.

17:22

Early action saw John Tom Varey and Reese Lynch claim four-round victories to move to 3-0 and 5-0 respectively.