Ben Whittaker didn’t just win tonight — he humiliated Benjamin Gavazi in front of a packed NEC like the poor lad wandered into the wrong sport. Matchroom wanted a statement on his debut, and Whittaker delivered something closer to a public execution.
Dizzee Rascal blasted him to the ring like he was headlining a festival, and the second the music cut, Whittaker switched straight into bully mode. You could feel it.
Gavazi barely had time to blink. Whittaker iced him inside a single round — violent, clean, embarrassing. The sort of stoppage where you immediately look at the ref like, “Yeah mate, that needed stopping. Ages ago.”
That’s 10-0-1 with 7 stoppages now, and Whittaker strutted around the ring like he owned the building… because he basically did.
He said: “I want to thank my lord and saviour, Jesus Christ, I want to thank everyone for coming out, buying the tickets, and making this night special. When you walk out pretty like that, you’ve got to back it up. And I did.
“He was a game kid, 20 fights, he only lost one. He came to change his life but like I said, I showed something special, and I showed why I’m different. You don’t get Olympic medals by hopping around on one foot. I can do it all.”
Eddie Hearn said: “We don’t want to take him to America too much, but America is crying out for Ben Whittaker.”
Translation: Hearn knows he’s got a show pony who can actually fight, not just pose. America will eat this up.
Co-Main Was a War, Not Pretty, But Proper Nasty
Tom Cowling and Aaron Bowen tried to beat the ambition out of each other in a gruelling scrap that looked like it shaved a few years off both men. Cowling edged it by split decision (93-96, 95-94, 95-94), but honestly, nobody walked out of that ring feeling clever. Brutal, sloppy at times, full of heart — exactly what a fight at this level should be.
Cameron Vuong and Gavin Gwynne then mauled each other for ten rounds and still couldn’t settle it, ending in a majority draw. You could show that fight to someone who’s never watched boxing and they’d immediately get it — this sport is cruel.
Molly McCann improved to 2-0, scrapping her way past Ebonie Cotton in a proper gritty showing. No finesse, just stubbornness and engine. She’ll be a handful for anyone who expects an easy night.
Prelims Served Violence, Struggle, And A Few Bright Spots
Ibraheem Sulaimaan bagged the Midlands Area Super Featherweight title with a points win over Nico Ogbeide. Big moment for him — he fought like a lad who refused to go home empty-handed.
Zelfa Barrett made it three straight, beating Liam Dillon in a hard-fought points win. Cleaner than most on the card, but you could see him working through gears still.
And Alfie Middlemiss handled Engel Gomez with proper composure, boxing tidy and racking up rounds like he was collecting stamps.
FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS
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Ben Whittaker KO R1 Benjamin Gavazi
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Tom Cowling SD PTS Aaron Bowen
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Cameron Vuong DRAW Gavin Gwynne
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Molly McCann PTS Ebonie Cotton
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Ibraheem Sulaimaan PTS Nico Ogbeide
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Zelfa Barrett PTS Liam Dillon
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Alfie Middlemiss PTS Engel Gomez