Ben Whittaker is hoping to ignite a stop-start professional career when he faces Benjamin Gavazi in Birmingham on Saturday night.
The 10-round light heavyweight clash is nominally for the vacant WBC Silver title and marks Whittaker's debut under Eddie Hearn's Matchroom banner.
The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist has navigated his career so far with Boxxer, the Ben Shalom-fronted operation which launches its new broadcast deal with the BBC on the same night as Whittaker vs. Gavazi.
That's an entertaining subplot on the promotional side, but the imperative is for the 28-year-old Whittaker (9-0-1, 6 KOs) to make good on his obvious potential.
The standard of his opposition and the frequency of his activity since his July 2022 professional debut have been a source of criticism for the skilful showboater. After joining up with trainer Andy Lee for the decisive conclusion to his two-fight series with Liam Cameron, Whittaker must put his foot down against Gavazi (19-1, 13 KOs), who is unbeaten since a points loss on debut seven years ago.
On the undercard, a simmering domestic grudge must be settled, regional titles are on the line and an ex-UFC star takes the next step of a boxing journey.
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Ben Whittaker. Vs. Benjamin Gavazi undercard
Here's a breakdown of all the action on the Whittaker vs. Gavazi card:
Cameron Vuong vs. Gavin Gwynne
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Vuong record: 9-0
- Gwynne record: 18-4-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Vuong was awarded a narrow and hotly disputed split-decision win over Gwynne in Birmingham 12 months ago on the Galal Yafai vs. Sunny Edwards undercard.
A return has felt inevitable since then. Vuong has settled another grudge with Jordan Flynn via an emphatic seventh-round stoppage before a tickover against journeyman Reuquen Cona Facundo Arce.
Former European champion Gwynne was ringside to lambast his rival afterwards that night, although a solitary six-rounder marks the veteran Welshman's only action of the intervening period.
Aaron Bowen vs. Tom Cowling
- Division/Weight: Middleweight
- Bowen record: 7-0
- Cowling record: 14-1
- Belts at stake: BBBofC Midlands Area title
The heavy-handed Bowen comes into this one following back-to-back stoppages and has five career stoppages overall.
That's one more than Cowling, who has banked a couple of tick-over wins since his narrow loss to Troy Coleman when he fought for this belt last September.
Ibraheem Sulaimaan vs. Nico Ogbeide
- Division/Weight: Super Featherweight
- Sulaimaan record: 9-0
- Ogbeide record: 6-1-1
- Belts at stake: BBBofC Midlands Area title
Suliamaan is swifty back out after a shutout triumph over James Chereji on the Dave Allen vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard last month.
The 24-year-old southpaw is the favourite heading into this Birmingham derby against Ogbeide, who fell short in his first bid to win the Midlands Area belt against Brandon Bethell in June.
Zelfa Barrett vs. Liam Dillon
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Barrett record: 33-3
- Dillon record: 15-4-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Former super featherweight world title challenger Barrett makes his third outing at lightweight against Dillon, who has lost his past two in good company.
The 29-year-old Londoner gave a good account of himself when contesting the vacant European super lightweight title against the undefeated Pierce O'Leary at Portman Road before Fabio Wardley's stunning KO of Justis Huni.
A final eliminator for the British lightweight title versus the similarly unblemished Ahmed Hatim also went against Dillon, but there is clearly no consideration of a rebuild job as he jumps in against a fighter of Barrett's calibre.
The Manchester boxer saw his momentum stall after a stunning 10th-round stoppage of Jordan Gill in April 2024. Barrett spent a year out of the ring before a frustrating loss to the wily Jazza Dickens persuaded him to leave super featherweight behind and join up with trainer Joe Gallagher.
Molly McCann vs. Ebonie Cotton
- Division/Weight: Super Bantamweight
- McCann record: 1-0
- Cotton record: 1-0
- Belts at stake: N/A
Former UFC favourite McCann enjoyed an eventful debut on the Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan 2 undercard, stopping Kate Radomska in the fifth of a scheduled six rounds.
Cotton, who began her boxing career in Australia with a handful of amateur and white collar fights, has an identical professional record, although McCann's vast fight sports experience is the decisive point of difference.
Alfie Middlemiss vs. Engel Gomez
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Middlemiss record: 4-0
- Gomez record: 9-53-3
- Belts at stake: N/A
Jamie Moore-trained youngster Middlemiss will round off his first year as a professional with a fifth four-round encounter.
The 22-year-old former actor has not lost a round and will hope to score a first stoppage against Slovakia-based Nicaraguan Gomez.
Ben Whittaker. Vs. Benjamin Gavazi tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, November 29, 2025
- Location: National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
- Time: 5 p.m.
- Main event start time (approx.): 10 p.m.
- Live stream: DAZN
Ben Whittaker. Vs. Benjamin Gavazi is available on DAZN.
A monthly subscription costs £9.99 on a 12-month contract or £19.99 month-to-month. An annual subscription will cost £99.99.
Alternatively, fans can sign up to the new DAZN Ultimate subscription tier, which costs £22.99 per month - rising to £24.99 after 12 months - and includes a minimum of 12 pay-per-view events every year at no extra cost.