Ben Whittaker, Conor Wallace Target October 3 IBF Eliminator

Advanced negotiations would place the winner in line for a mandatory shot at unified champion Dmitry Bivol

Ben Whittaker is in advanced negotiations to face Conor Wallace in an IBF light heavyweight final eliminator on October 3 in Birmingham, according to Ring Magazine. The winner would become the mandatory challenger for unified champion Dmitry Bivol if the fight is finalized.

Wallace is ranked No. 2 by the IBF and brings a 17-1 (13 KOs) record into the bout, while Whittaker sits at No. 3.

Since winning silver at the Tokyo Olympics, the unbeaten 29-year-old Whittaker has become one of British boxing’s most heavily scrutinized figures. He has won four straight by stoppage, extending that streak in June with a second-round knockout of Richard Rivera to retain his WBC Silver light heavyweight title. Before that, he scored early knockout victories over Braian Nahuel Suarez and Benjamin Gavazi, along with a second-round technical knockout of Liam Cameron in their April 2025 rematch in Birmingham.

A victory over Wallace would move Whittaker within one fight of a world title opportunity against Bivol, who remains the division’s unified champion. The bout has not been officially announced.

Wallace would represent the toughest opponent of Whittaker’s career. A victory would strengthen his case as a legitimate world-title contender and secure his place as Bivol’s mandatory challenger.

Ben Whittaker is reportedly in advanced negotiations to fight Conor Wallace in an IBF light heavyweight title final eliminator on October 3rd in Birmingham, England. pic.twitter.com/BdwOUazpmE

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) July 14, 2026

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