Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace

This is not another showcase for Ben Whittaker to ponce about, pull faces and collect a highlight for social media. Conor Wallace is a proper light-heavyweight, a tall southpaw with ambition, experience over the championship distance and an IBF ranking above Whittaker. Their October 3 contest in Birmingham is a final eliminator for a crack at unified champion Dmitry Bivol, so the winner moves from prospect or contender into serious world-title business.

Whittaker is 12-0-1 with nine stoppages, an Olympic silver medallist with quicker hands, cleaner feet and far more variety. He can draw a lead, slide half a step out and punish the mistake before most fighters have brought their gloves home. Wallace, 17-1 with 12 stoppages, is no little bruiser coming to swing from his boots. He is a 6ft 3½in southpaw who can box off the back foot, punch straight and make an opponent work through that long lead hand. He also proved his bottle by avenging his only defeat and beating Jerome Pampellone over 12 rounds.

The nuts and bolts are straightforward. Whittaker’s advantage is speed of thought. Against Rivera, he controlled the range immediately, dropped him twice and finished matters in the second round. Four consecutive opponents have now failed to reach the third, but that run can be misleading because Wallace will not simply stand square and admire the hand speed.

Wallace’s best route is the straight left to Whittaker’s body, followed by the right hook when Ben circles away. He must rough him up, lean on him and make him reset under pressure. Whittaker can become too upright and comfortable when he thinks he is running the show. Wallace needs to put claret in his mouth early and turn it into a straightener.

But I cannot pick against the cleaner talent. Whittaker’s feet will keep him outside Wallace’s left hand, and once Wallace starts reaching, the right uppercut and check hook will find him. Wallace will make him work, but he will absorb too many sharp counters.

Whittaker by referee’s stoppage in the middle rounds.