Ben Whittaker fights Conor Wallace in Birmingham tonight in a final eliminator for the IBF light-heavyweight belt.

The undefeated 2020 Olympic silver medallist is hoping to take a big step towards a maiden world title shot as he returns to home soil following an eye-catching US debut in June, when he stopped Richard Rivera early in Brooklyn on the undercard of Xander Zayas vs Jarron ‘Boots’ Ennis.

It was a fourth straight victory for Whittaker to follow his shock and bizarre draw against Liam Cameron in Riyadh in October 2024, which was swiftly and emphatically put right in a rematch before successive first-round knockouts of Benjamin Gavazi and Braian Nahuel Suarez, having switched from Ben Shalom’s BOXXER to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

The showboating ‘Surgeon’ - who is 12-0-1 and defending the WBC silver light-heavyweight belt - has his eyes set on a challenge for the IBF gold at 175lbs, which is held by former undisputed and current unified champion Dmitry Bivol, who followed his stunning rematch win over Artur Beterbiev with a dominant points victory against Michael Eifert in his first fight for 15 months in Russia in May.

However, Bivol - rather than complete his trilogy with Beterbiev - has instead been ordered to defend his WBO strap against Liverpool’s Callum Smith, the mandatory challenger. That showdown is set to take place in Yekaterinburg on December 12.

Looking to spring a huge upset against Whittaker is Wallace, the 17-1 southpaw from Newry, Northern Ireland who is now based in Australia, who has reeled off 10 consecutive wins since suffering his lone professional defeat by Leti Leti in 2021, winning the IBF Pan Pacific and WBO Inter-Continental titles along the way.

Wallace last fought with a sixth-round stoppage of Argentina’s Walter Gabriel Sequeira in Brisbane in April.

Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace takes place on Saturday October 3, 2026 at Utilita Arena Birmingham.

Main event ring walks have initially been listed for approximately 10:33pm BST in the UK, which is 5:33pm ET and 2:33pm PT in the United States.

Coverage of the main undercard begins at 7pm, with early bouts from 4:30pm.

Bilal Fawaz vs Eithan James

Sean Bruce vs Hamza Uddin

Ibraheem Sulaimaan vs Sonny Hardy

Odel Kamara vs Thodoris Ritzakis

Klinton Baptiste vs Aaron Bowen

Adam Maca vs Rogger Rivera

Harley Burrows vs Matias Ezequiel Herrera

Paige Murney vs Linzi Buczynskyj

Whittaker vs Wallace is available to watch live in the UK via DAZN, as part of their regular subscription service and not pay-per-view.

Whittaker to win by knockout in the middle rounds.

Whittaker tipped the scales on Friday at 174.9lbs, while Wallace weighed in a pound lighter at 173.9lbs.

Whittaker to win: 1/10

Wallace to win: 13/2

Whittaker to win on points/by decision: 5/1

Whittaker to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 1/4

Wallace to win on points/by decision: 16/1

Wallace to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 10/1

Odds via UK betting sites (subject to change).