Whittaker aims to leap toward a world title while Wallace eyes a career‑changing upset in Birmingham.
The Utilita Arena Birmingham will host a marquee boxing night on Saturday, October 3, 2026. American-born Ben Whittaker the undefeated holder of the WBC silver light-heavyweight belt steps into the ring against Irish-born, Australia-based Conor Wallace a 2020 Olympic silver-medalist.
The bout, slated for a 10:33 pm BST start (5:33 pm ET, 2:33 pm PT), marks Whittaker’s first appearance on home soil since his impressive U.S. debut in June, when he halted Richard Rivera early in Brooklyn.
Whittaker’s pursuit of the IBF world title
At 12-0-1, Whittaker has defended his WBC silver belt with confidence and now sets his sights on the coveted IBF gold at 175 lbs. The current champion, Dmitry Bivol a former undisputed and now unified title-holder, recorded a dominant points victory over Michael Eifert in May – his first fight after a 15-month hiatus in Russia.
While many expected Bivol to seek a trilogy with Artur Beterbiev, the sanctioning bodies have ordered him to defend his WBO strap against mandatory challenger Callum Smith in Yekaterinburg on December 12. Whittaker’s win over Wallace could be the springboard he needs to earn that next-level challenge.
Conor Wallace: the underdog with a point to prove
Wallace arrives in Birmingham on a wave of momentum. The 17-1 southpaw from Newry, Northern Ireland, now residing in Australia, has not lost since a 2021 defeat at the hands of Leti Leti. He has amassed ten straight victories, capturing the IBF Pan Pacific and WBO Inter-Continental titles along the way. His most recent triumph came in April, when he stopped Argentina’s Walter Gabriel Sequeira in the sixth round in Brisbane. Facing Whittaker, Wallace hopes to replicate his recent form and pull off a career-defining upset.
Fight night logistics and undercard action
Fans can tune in via DAZN in the UK, where the event is part of the regular subscription and not a pay-per-view. Coverage of the undercard begins at 7 pm BST, with early bouts kicking off at 4:30 pm. The supporting card features a solid lineup:
- 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
These fights set the stage for the main event, delivering a full evening of high-octane boxing.
Weigh-ins, odds and predictions
At the official weigh-in on Friday, Whittaker tipped the scales at 174.9 lbs while Wallace registered a pound lighter at 173.9 lbs. Betting markets reflect Whittaker’s favored status: a 5/1 price for a decision win and a steep 1/4 for a knockout, compared with Wallace’s longer odds of 16/1 for a decision and 10/1 for a stoppage. Analysts lean toward Whittaker securing a knockout in the middle rounds, but Wallace’s striking power and relentless pace keep the outcome anything but certain.
