The WBC confirmed the title defense after Whittaker stopped Richard Rivera in the second round of their June 27 fight in Brooklyn. That performance followed his first-round knockout of Benjamin Gavazi last November.
Those two wins required only three combined rounds. They displayed Whittaker’s speed, timing and finishing ability, but did little to prepare him for a long fight against an opponent capable of disrupting his rhythm.
Wallace brings a different set of questions. The Australian-based Irishman is a tall southpaw with a 17–1 record, 12 knockouts and extensive amateur experience. He has already beaten
