Champion Boxer Targeted in Brazen Burglary
British light-heavyweight boxer Ben Whittaker experienced the extreme highs and lows of a sporting career in a single night this past Saturday. While the athlete was securing a decisive victory in the ring, burglars were ransacking his Wednesbury home in the West Midlands.
Whittaker, 28, was in Birmingham facing German opponent Benjamin Gavazi, in his first fight under promoter Eddie Hearn. He dominated the bout, flooring Gavazi twice in the first round to claim the WBC Silver light-heavyweight title with ease.
A Bitter Homecoming
The triumph turned to shock when Whittaker returned to his property to discover it had been broken into and thoroughly searched by intruders. Taking to Instagram the following morning, the boxer revealed the emotional toll, stating, 'Highs and lows of sport. Come back... house has been burgled.'
In a direct appeal to his local community, he offered a 'big, big reward' for information leading to the identification of the robbers. A significant personal loss was also disclosed, with Whittaker confirming, 'They even took my IBF belt,' referring to the IBF light-heavyweight title belt he won in June 2024.
His social media post indicated that the burglars had forced entry through a window, with visible damage to the blinds. West Midlands Police have launched an investigation, confirming they were called 'shortly after midnight today (Sunday)' to a report of a break-in with property stolen.
A Troubling Trend for Sports Stars
Unfortunately, Whittaker's ordeal is part of a wider pattern of high-profile athletes being targeted by criminals. In recent years, several Premier League footballers have fallen victim to similar crimes while they were away from home for matches.
This incident follows closely on the heels of other high-profile cases:
- Raheem Sterling: The Chelsea star's Surrey mansion was broken into just a couple of weeks ago, with the intruders being confronted by Sterling himself.
- Jamie and Rebekah Vardy: The former England striker and his wife had their Italian villa near Lake Garda raided by a gang of three men last weekend, resulting in the theft of valuables worth an estimated £80,000, including a Patek Philippe watch.
Police sources in the Vardy case indicated the gang had likely been watching the family, timing the break-in to coincide with Vardy being away for a match. This method of operation highlights the calculated risks facing wealthy sports personalities.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the burglary at Ben Whittaker's home to contact West Midlands Police, quoting crime reference number 20/459973/25.
