ENJOY THE RYDE

Boxing is booming, right? So where have all the championship fights gone? No male world champion has had more than two world title fights this year. The pound-for-pound list is littered with single figure outings, whilst the women's game isn't much busier. In a time when stadium fights and unifications are regular, why has nobody taken 2026 by storm? Can you name a Boxer of the Year this year?

Ben Whittaker retained his unbeaten record in the pro ranks, but all talk of a world title fight coming next should be shelved as, once again, he muddled his way across the finish line. The Olympic silver medallist dominated Irishman Conor Wallace for nine rounds of their title eliminator, only to run out of gas and was left hanging on in the closing stages. The boys review the main event and the rest of the Birmingham card, which delivered from top to bottom.

Ben Whittaker is starting to look like the real deal inside the ropes, living up to the huge potential he had after medalling at the Olympic Games. But, who has he actually beaten? 'The Surgeon' is ranked incredibly highly by every one of the tin pot organisations, despite the fact he's never beaten anybody ranked in the top 100 at light-heavy. This weekend he gets the chance to put that straight against Irishman based Down Under Conor Wallace. Litmus test time.