British boxer Ben Whittaker experienced the extreme highs and lows of professional sport in a single night this weekend, returning home from a dominant victory to discover his house had been burgled.
A Perfect Night in the Ring Turns Sour
Ben Whittaker made a spectacular debut for promoter Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing on Saturday night, stopping Germany's Benjamin Gavazi in the first round of their light-heavyweight contest. The fight, held in Birmingham, lasted barely two minutes, with Whittaker scoring two knockdowns before the referee waved it off.
The 28-year-old Olympic silver medallist, who hails from Wednesbury, was celebrating a performance that extended his perfect professional record. However, the euphoria was brutally cut short upon his return home.
The Shocking Discovery and Plea for Help
Whittaker took to Instagram to share the distressing news with his followers. "Highs and lows of the sport," he wrote. "Come back, house has been burgled." The fighter then issued a direct appeal to his local community, offering a substantial reward for information.
"But Wednesbury, I've got a big, big reward," he continued. "Find these people and let me know. They even took my IBF belt, what they going to do with that?" The theft of the symbolic boxing belt added a particularly personal insult to the crime. Whittaker urged anyone with information to contact him via direct message.
Building Momentum After a Rocky Patch
The incident casts a shadow over what should have been a wholly positive night for Whittaker. This victory followed an impressive second-round stoppage of Liam Cameron in April, which itself was a redeeming rematch after a bizarre first encounter in October last year.
That initial fight with Cameron ended in a technical draw after both men tumbled through the ropes, a result that drew significant criticism towards Whittaker. His switch from Boxxer to Matchroom in October and this emphatic win had positioned him for a potential high-profile fight in the United States next year, as suggested by promoter Eddie Hearn.
Police have been informed of the burglary at the boxer's Wednesbury home, which is less than a 30-minute drive from the Utilita Arena Birmingham where his fight took place. The investigation is ongoing.
