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Ben Whittaker dominates gate-crasher Ezra Arenyeka after receiving headbutt and elbow
Ben Whittaker produced a dominant performance to beat Ezra Arenyeka after taking a headbutt and an elbow to the face in Saturday's co-main event
Sunday 16 June 2024 11:53, UK
Ben Whittaker first showboated before Ezra Arenyeka responded in kind during the opening round of their fight.
Whittaker first showboated before Arenyeka responded in kind during the opening round of their fight
Ben Whittaker put a commanding end to the minor Ezra Arenyeka sub-plot in his career as he cruised through a one-sided, occasionally-ugly contest to clinch a unanimous decision win in the co-main event at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Whittaker, who had walked to the ring backed by an orchestra, toyed and out-classed his opponent, who had secured a place on the same stage as the Olympian by way of gate-crashing his press conference ahead of his last outing against Leon Willings.
Whittaker was headbutted by a displeased Arenyeka at the end of the sixth round, before being elbowed to the face in the seventh as a fiery build-up crept into the ring.
But they would prove small blemishes in an otherwise dominant performance for Whittaker, who was barely drawn out of first gear as he claimed it 100-89, 99-90, 99-90 on the cards.
Ezra Arenyeka headbutts Ben Whittaker during their fight
Arenyeka lashed out with a headbutt after Whittaker taunted him by walking him back to his corner after the sixth round
Victory lifts Whittaker to 8-0 as a professional as he now looks towards a potential main event later later in the year, along with vastly more challenging opponents amid his rise through the light-heavyweight ranks.
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The gulf in ability was evident immediately as Whittaker shelved any early showboating in order to send a message in the way of Arenyeka and any potential opportunistic suitors who might be thinking of similar gate-crashing exploits.
Arenyeka had been highly-critical of Whittaker's showmanship during the build-up to the fight, but soon found himself succumbing to the theatre as the pair exchanged dance moves in the middle of the ring.