Heavyweight veteran Dave Allen has questioned whether Ben Whittaker can ultimately compete with the best at 175lbs, even after his decisive victory over Conor Wallace.
Whittaker entered Saturday’s fight as the favourite in the first IBF eliminator at light-heavyweight, aiming to become the organisation’s leading challenger.
For the first nine rounds, he appeared to control the contest with his speed, movement and sharp punches, keeping Wallace at distance and limiting his chances to impose a rhythm.
However, Wallace began to find more success with his left hand in the final stages, particularly from his southpaw stance, and landed some painful shots in the 12th round. Although Whittaker touched the canvas three times, no knockdowns were recorded.
Ultimately, the no-knockdown rulings did not affect the outcome, as the judges awarded a unanimous decision to Whittaker. The victory is expected to lead to him being sanctioned as Bivol’s mandatory challenger after the unified champion defends his titles against Callum Smith on December 12.
In comments to talkSPORT, Allen suggested that the level represented by Bivol and Artur Beterbiev may be beyond Whittaker.
“Since Ben Whittaker made his debut, I’ve never been massively sold on him as a pro. He’s got unbelievable talent – must be one of the most talented fighters in the UK, if not the world. You watch him and think, ‘Wow, this guy’s incredible’.
“But professional boxing’s 12 rounds. You have to punch; you have to be strong [and] durable. They’re things I think, at a level, he hasn’t got.
“Conor Wallace … how that was a final eliminator for the world title, I will never know.”
Dave Allen calls out Ben Whittaker claiming “he’s not a great pro!”
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Allen went on to describe Bivol and Beterbiev as the benchmark at 175lbs, arguing that, although Whittaker has the ability to reach the top of the division, he may lack the physical strength and durability needed to contend with the current elite.