The Ben Whittaker train keeps rolling after a one-round knockout of Argentine Braian Suarez at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Saturday night. An emphatic win was required, and that is what he delivered.
Suarez (21-5, 20 KOs) complained to referee Steve Gray about a cuff to the back of his head in the final minute of round one. That was his last action.
Whittaker put together nine unanswered punches, finishing with a right hook behind Suarez’s ear. It was over. A brief outing.
That is now four rounds in a year for Whittaker, following his first-round knockout of Benjamin Gavazi in November 2025 and his second-round finish of Liam Cameron this time last year.
Talk now moves to who is next.
Jesse Hart seems to be in the driving seat to appear in the opposite corner for Whittaker’s American debut in June.
Hart has been in with the likes of Zurdo Ramirez, Sullivan Barrera, and Joe Smith Jr, so he would be a decent name to add to the Whittaker record as he continues to build.
Eddie Hearn: Whittaker ‘ready for true tests’ after Suarez demolition
‘We are on a beautiful path to the world championships and we have got to get it right, and as we peak we have got to be ready for the true tests for Ben Whittaker.
‘Next up he is going to be where he should be, where all the superstars go and walk in front of the bright lights. New York, he is coming.
‘Jaron Ennis against Xander Zayas, Barclays Centre. Brooklyn, you are going to see the true star of British boxing make his American debut on June 27.
‘Then we are going to come back and headline in Birmingham in a big fight, whether that is a big domestic fight or a final eliminator for the world championship.
‘By the end of that period, I truly believe in 2027 he will be ready for every 175 pounder in the world.’
Andy Lee, Whittaker’s trainer, added to the enthusiasm he showed at the pre-fight press conference.
‘It is only going to get better, and it is scary.
‘To me he is good enough to beat them all right now, he just needs the experience to match the skill, the craft and the talent.’
Whittaker (11-0-1 8 KOs) finished the night with a message of what’s to come.
‘Of course, I want to be a world champion, but I want to go down as one of Britain’s best ever boxers. There has been a great bunch of fighters, past and present, but when it is all said and done, I want them to say “that Ben Whittaker was good”, and that is what they will say.’
So the road is mapped. America and then Birmingham for the rest of 2026. As exciting as the one-round blowout was, the question will continue to be who is in the opposite corner. By the end of the year, the fans may be more satisfied with the opponents heading into 2027.
Whittaker vs. Suarez Full Card Results
- Ben Whittaker Won KO 1 Braian Nahuel Suarez
- Molly McCann Won Pts 8 Ashleigh Johnson
- Joe McGrail Won KO 5 Aaron Hayden
- Leo Atang Won Pts 6 Viktar Chvarkou
- Ste Clarke Won Pts 8 Luis Enrique Montelongo
- Jack Power Won TKO 6 Novak Radulovic
- Tom Rafferty Won Rtd 3 Pablo Sosa
- Sam Norris Won Pts 4 Jahfieus Faure
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