Conor Wallace Goes to War with Ben Whittaker in Birmingham!

What a fight, and what a performance from our very own Conor Wallace! 👊🏻

On Saturday, October 3, Conor stepped into the ring at Birmingham's Utilita Arena to face undefeated British superstar and Olympic silver medallist Ben Whittaker in a massive IBF Light Heavyweight World Title Final Eliminator, with the WBC Silver title also on the line.

It was an enormous opportunity on the world stage, and one that Conor had worked tirelessly towards. Travelling from Australia to take on one of Britain's biggest boxing prospects in his own backyard, Conor knew he had a serious challenge ahead of him. But as we've come to expect from our Fortitude fighters, he wasn't there to make up the numbers!

The fight was a fascinating clash of styles. Whittaker, known for his flashy footwork, lightning-fast reflexes and unorthodox movement, came out looking to control the distance and dictate the pace. His sharp jab, quick combinations and trademark showboating made him a difficult target to pin down, allowing him to build an early lead on the scorecards.

Conor, a tough and determined southpaw with an aggressive, pressure-based fighting style, had a very different approach. Known for his powerful left hand, resilience and ability to keep pushing forward, Conor worked to close the distance and find opportunities against Whittaker's elusive defence.

The early rounds belonged to Whittaker, whose speed and movement made it difficult for Conor to settle into his rhythm. But Conor remained composed, absorbed the pressure and continued searching for his openings. And as the fight entered the championship rounds, everything began to change.

In the tenth round, Conor landed a huge left hand that rocked Whittaker and completely shifted the momentum. Suddenly, the previously comfortable hometown favourite found himself under serious pressure. Conor continued to push forward, landing heavy shots and forcing Whittaker into exchanges he had managed to avoid earlier in the fight.

By the twelfth and final round, the Birmingham crowd was witnessing an absolute thriller. Conor had Whittaker badly hurt, pressing forward relentlessly as the British fighter desperately clinched and held on to survive the closing minutes. Whittaker went to the canvas three times during the frantic final round, although the referee ruled none of them a knockdown.

It was an extraordinary finish, and a reminder of just how quickly a boxing match can change. Conor had taken one of the sport's most highly regarded prospects into deep waters, testing his composure, endurance and ability to survive under pressure.

Ultimately, Whittaker's early lead was enough to secure a unanimous decision victory, with the judges scoring the contest 117–111, 116–112 and 115–113. But those scorecards certainly don't tell the whole story of what unfolded in Birmingham.

While it wasn't the result we had all hoped for, Conor showed the boxing world exactly why he belongs on the international stage. His toughness, power and determination turned what appeared to be a comfortable victory for Whittaker into a dramatic battle that had boxing fans talking long after the final bell.

There has already been plenty of discussion surrounding a potential rematch, with both fighters expressing interest in meeting again. After a finish like that, we certainly wouldn't mind seeing these two share the ring once more!

From the early mornings, countless rounds of sparring and hours of hard work at Fortitude, to fighting under the bright lights on one of boxing's biggest stages, Conor continues to make our entire gym incredibly proud.

A massive congratulations to Conor, his coaches and everyone who has been part of his journey. It takes something special to compete at this level, and even more to keep fighting until the very last bell.

We're incredibly proud of you, Conor. The whole Fortitude family is behind you, and we can't wait to see what comes next! ❤️🥊