Eddie Hearn announces stacked four-fight schedule including Ben Whittaker and world title fight

Jul 20, 2026 - 17:45
Eddie Hearn announces stacked four-fight schedule including Ben Whittaker and world title fight

Matchroom Boxing are gearing up for a busy few months.

On Monday, Eddie Hearn‘s promotional outfit added four events to its stacked calendar, ranging from British to world level.

Whittaker will vie for a world title shot against Wallace in October
Matchroom

Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace

As was first reported by talkSPORT.com, Ben Whittaker will face Aussie-Irish boxer Conor Wallace on October 3 in a homecoming fight at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.

The pair will duke it out in an IBF light heavyweight final eliminator to determine the mandatory challenger for unified WBA, IBF and WBO champion Dmitry Bivol.

Russia’s Bivol only recently fulfilled his IBF mandatory obligation by outclassing Michael Eifert over the 12-round distance in May.

The IBF is therefore the last in the sanctioning body rotation system, giving Whittaker’s handlers adequate time to step up through the levels in preparation for an eventual shot at the world title, likely in late 2027.

This is, of course, dependent on him beating No.2-ranked IBF contender Wallace (17-1), who enters the fight with 10 wins on the bounce.

Whittaker (12-0-1) is also in good form, having rebounded from his anticlimactic technical draw with Liam Cameron in October 2024 to dispatch his last four opponents inside two rounds.

‘The Surgeon’ made a successful US debut last month by blasting away Richard Rivera in the second round in New York to cement his No.3 ranking with the IBF.

Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello

Dalton Smith’s ill-fated WBC super lightweight title defence against Alberto Puello has finally been rescheduled to October 24 at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.

Smith was initially set to face Puello on June 6 at the same venue.

However, he was forced to pull out of the contest due to injury.

Smith vs Puello has been rescheduled to October 24
Matchroom

Smith (19-0) picked up the green and gold strap in January by halting Subriel Matias in a five-round shootout.

Puello (25-1) held the 140lbs WBC title for just under 12 months until it was snatched from him by Matias in July 2025 via a contentious majority decision.

John Hedges vs Pat Brown

Incumbent English 200lbs champion John Hedges squares off against Paris 2024 Olympian Pat Brown for the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles on September 19 at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester.

Hedges (12-0) outpointed Nathan Quarless for the English strap in May 2025 and then successfully defended it in an awkward clash of styles with Ellis Zorro last time out in December.

It marks a step up in opposition for both men, particularly the highly-touted Brown (6-0), who has torn through early overmatched dance partners like a freight train.

Hedges and Brown meet in a domestic cruiserweight clash
Matchroom

George Liddard vs Dario Morello

British and Commonwealth middleweight titlist George Liddard continues down the traditional route on August 22 at the iconic York Hall in Bethnal Green as he takes on Italy’s Dario Morello for the vacant European title.

Liddard (14-0) became the first man to stop the durable Kieron Conway in October 2025 for the British and Commonwealth belts and then defended them both against Tyler Denny in March.

His next opponent, Morello (26-1), is somewhat of an unknown quantity, having never fought outside of his home country.

The Liddard-Morello undercard also includes a Commonwealth middleweight title fight between Jimmy Sains and Tom Cowling, and a bout between Tiah Mai-Ayton and Ellie Hellewel for the Commonwealth featherweight belt.

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