Ben Whittaker Defeats Eworitse Ezra Arenyeka in First Ten-Rounder, Remains Undefeated

Missy Elliott, Drake and the symphony all helped set the tone for Ben Whittaker's latest win.

A dramatic entrance to the ring was followed by a more subdued performance from the brilliant British light heavyweight in his ten-round debut. Whittaker went the distance defeating the undefeated Eworitse Ezra Arenyeka.

The results were 100-90, 99-91, 99-91 for the unbeaten Whittaker in their Sky Sports/Peacock+ match on Saturday at Selhurst Park in London.

Whittaker played to a packed crowd at Selhurst Park. The 2020 Olympic silver medalist has quickly made a name for herself, with fans and critics watching her every move. A subtle dance performance was provided by Whittaker as he moved into 'Get Ur Freak On' before taking center stage for the second act. A violin-filled symphony capped off Drake's 'Over' as the undefeated 27-year-old made his way to the ring.

Then came the real battle.

Theatrics were saved by Whittaker (8-0, 5 knockouts) for the most part in the opening round. The same was not said of Arenyeka, who put his hands behind his back and taunted his favorite enemy. The pranks sparked a week of fights, forcing them to split up during Friday's look-down post.

Whittaker was called defensively in the second round. His awareness of every incoming punch helped to stop left hooks when he could pump his jab with purpose. Arenyeka refused to disappear but was unsuccessful in his horrific attack.

A body shot left Arenyeka, a Nigerian who had surgery in Cheshire, briefly injured and forced to withdraw after the third. Whittaker moved in to follow him but ran out of time before he could fully capture the moment.

The action slowed down a bit in the middle rounds, though the frustration level was evident with the longshot underdog.

Arenyeka was disciplined by the referee for a headbutt after the bell rang for the sixth round. Whittaker scoffed and walked next to Arenyeka, who bowed his head forward. Both fighters were encouraged by the third man to keep it clean and limited contact within the rules.

The advice never stuck.

Arenyeka misses badly with a left hook. Following that, his arm wrapped around Whittaker's head. Whittaker's attempt to break out of position met with a right elbow to his jaw. Time was called as a point was deducted from Arenyeka's total score for the foul.

Whittaker switched to southpaw before returning to normal form in an effective but slightly connected eighth round. Arenyeka followed Whittaker into the ring but often caught his breath with his upper left hook. Whittaker played a lot of defense and played his own, but he fired a left body shot from the back of the frame.

Less than three months after going the full eight-round distance for the first time, Whittaker once again entered unprecedented territory. He continued to attack calmly in the first nine rounds of his boxing career. Arenyeka was forced to close most of the round, but Whittaker didn't get a single takedown.

Whittaker put Arenyeka (12-1, 10 KOs) in trouble in the last fifteen seconds of the fight. Arenyeka's nose was bleeding as his legs nearly gave out after a four-pack between Whittaker. Attempts to end the program were unsuccessful as the bell rang to end the competition.

The win was the third of a productive 2024 campaign so far for Whittaker, even without a finish.

“It was frustrating, I'm not going to lie,” Whittaker told Sky Sport's Anna Woolhouse. “But it was a good game.”

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