Ben Whittaker vs. Conor Wallace press conference quotes and fight prediction
Ben Whittaker (12-0-1, 9 KOs) will soon take on Conor Wallace (17-1, 12 KOs) in a 12-round light heavyweight contest.
Their bout headlines a Matchroom Boxing card at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, England. Fight fans around the world can catch the action live on DAZN.
Both men spoke at a press conference ahead of their Oct. 3 clash. Below is some of what they had to say.
Ben Whittaker vs. Conor Wallace press conference quotes
Ben Whittaker
“Yeah, he’s game,” said Whittaker. “He’s tough. He’s come to change his life, but like I said, this is like his World Cup. This is the final hurdle for him. This is just a stepping stone for me and I’ve got to show that.”
“I’d love to [go rounds] and not to, you know what I mean. There’s nothing better than knocking someone out. You’re backstage, eating a Five Guys, chilling out, but I think to get the rounds, to look good under the lights, the fans are paying their hard-earned money, it would be nice as well.”
Conor Wallace
“Think this fight’s been brewing for a while,” said Wallace. “I’m glad it’s finally here, you know what I mean. I feel like the better the opponent, the better I perform. I’ve shown that in my career. You’re gonna see the best version of Conor Wallace on Saturday night.”
“Yeah, exactly right [I want to test myself against the best]. To see how good I actually am. We know Ben’s a great operator. He’s got a great team with Andy Lee. I’m under no illusions. It’s going to be a hard fight, but I’m in the shape of my life. Mentally and physically. I look forward to putting on a show.”
Fight prediction
From Big Fight Weekend’s Ricky Carroll: Wallace is a good fighter. He controls the distance well in his fights by using his jab, something he will need to do to frustrate Whittaker. He doesn’t waste much in the ring and is diligent with his approach. He will need to use his jab and footwork to keep Whittaker guessing.
Whittaker is an exceptional boxer. His excellent amateur pedigree shines through, with his sharp footwork and punch placement. His speed of movement and punches frustrate and often bamboozle his opponents. He has proven under the guidance of Andy Lee that he also carries that fight-ending power.
Wallace may have enough about him to last two or three rounds, but I just can’t see him being able to deal with the speed and power of Ben Whittaker. We are backing “The Surgeon” to win by stoppage before round six.
Full press conference
For the press conference in its entirety, click here or the play button below. Video courtesy of Matchroom Boxing.
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Featured image credit
Matchroom Boxing
S Saadeq Ahmed
Currently writing out of Toronto, Canada, Saadeq first became a boxing fan while living in Doha, Qatar. Looking to become more involved in the sport, he began writing about boxing and has had work published in outlets such as Seconds Out and Boxing Social. He looks forward to continue covering boxing on Big Fight Weekend.