Professional boxer Ben Whittaker experienced the extreme highs and lows of his sport in a single night, returning home from a dominant victory to discover his house had been burgled and a championship belt stolen.
A Triumphant Night Turns Sour
On Saturday night, Olympic silver medalist Ben Whittaker delivered a stunning performance at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. In a fight scheduled for ten rounds, 'The Surgeon' needed just two minutes and 15 seconds to knock out his opponent, Benjamin Gavazi.
This decisive victory marked Whittaker's tenth consecutive win since turning professional in 2022 and earned him the vacant WBC Silver light-heavyweight title. The fighter, who lives in Wednesbury, was barely 20 miles from home during the bout.
Returning to a Crime Scene
The celebration was cut short when Whittaker returned home in the early hours of Sunday morning. He found his property had been broken into, with intruders forcing entry through a kitchen window.
In a video shared on his Instagram story, a remarkably calm Whittaker documented the scene, zooming in on the damaged window. "Come back, house has been burgled," he stated. Among the items stolen was a significant personal and professional treasure: his IBF International light-heavyweight title belt.
A 'Big Reward' for Information
Whittaker was quick to appeal to the public for help, offering a substantial incentive for information leading to those responsible. "But, Wednesbury, I've got a big, big reward," he said in his social media post. "Find these people, let me know. They've even took my IBF belt, what they gonna do with that? So, yeah, let me know, hit me up in the DMs, big reward, love."
Summarising the jarring contrast of the evening's events, the boxer described it as the "highs and lows of the sport."
Police Investigation Underway
West Midlands Police have confirmed they are investigating the burglary. A spokesperson told the BBC the incident occurred "shortly after midnight today [Sunday] with property stolen."
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact them on 101, quoting crime reference number 20/459973/25. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
The burglary comes at a pivotal time in Whittaker's career. Having recently signed a long-term contract with Matchroom Boxing, promoter Eddie Hearn has expressed plans to build his profile, including potential fights in the United States, where he believes the market is "crying out for Ben Whittaker."
