Ben Whittaker made his Matchroom Boxing debut in style on Saturday night.
Just one month after signing a long-term deal with Eddie Hearn and co. Whittaker headlined a Matchroom card at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.
In his return to action following a statement win in his rematch with Liam Cameron earlier this year, Whittaker took on German light heavyweight Benjamin Gavazi (19-1,13KO) in a ten round clash.
When the two met inside the ring it became immediately apparent that Gavazi was completely overmatched, and Whittaker floored the 30-year-old twice before the referee waved the fight off.
Now 11 fights into his burgeoning professional career, Whittaker will take a step up in competition for his next outing as he looks to realise his ambition of winning a world title.
With another victory on his resume, we've taken a look at four potential options for Whittaker's next fight.
Ben Whittaker potential next opponent
Lyndon Arthur
A perennial contender in the domestic light heavyweight scene, Lyndon Arthur has a wealth of experience inside the ropes and currently holds the European title.
Arthur travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2023 to take on pound-for-pound great Dmitry Bivol, and recently completed his trilogy with Anthony Yarde on the undercard of the first encounter between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn back in May.
With nearly 30 pro fights under his belt Arthur may be a bridge too far at this stage of Whittaker's career, but don't be surprised if these two collide inside the ring before it's all said and done.
Willy Hutchinson
If Whittaker is looking for an opponent who can test his skills outside of the boxing ring, there are few better candidates than Willy Hutchinson.
The outspoken Scotsman has never been shy about making his feelings clear and the build-up to a showdown between the pair would be sure to attract a large audience.
Hutchinson has been on the comeback trail after being defeated by Joshua Buatsi last year and if he is able to defeat Ezra Taylor in Manchester next month a 2026 clash between him and Whittaker could fall into place.
Craig Richards
Another fighter who has been there and done that in boxing, Craig Richards represents an interesting fight for Whittaker at this stage in their respective careers.
The 35-year-old is a former British champion and has fought for world honours in the past but appears to be at an impasse in his career with three defeats in his last six outings.
Richards has previously claimed that he is only interested in climbing back towards a world title shot but he could be convinced to take Whittaker as a means to get him back in the mix.
Lewis Edmondson
Ben Whittaker's flashy style inside the ring has made him must-see TV since he first stepped through the ropes, but a little bad blood could help further propel his name into the public consciousness.
Current British and Commonwealth champion Lewis Edmonson has long called for a fight with Whittaker, and the pair have gone back and forth since engaging in a war of words during a press conference in 2023.
Edmondson suffered his first career defeat to Daniel Lupin in July, and a fight between the pair could allow Whittaker to pick up the first major belt of his young career in the paid ranks.
