Eddie Hearn heaped praise on Ben Whittaker following his quick work against Brian Suarez. He confirmed that Whittaker will make his long-awaited U.S. debut on the undercard of Xander Zayas vs. Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
“Next up, he’s going to be where he should be,” Hearn said. “He’s going to be where all the superstars go and like to walk in front of the bright lights. New York, he’s coming. Ennis against Zayas, Barclays Center, Brooklyn. You’re going to see the true star of British boxing, Ben Whittaker, make his American debut on June 27th, number one.”
And now it’s officially announced that Whittaker is set to square off against Richard Rivera on June 27 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
‘The Surgeon’ will enter the fight against Rivera high on confidence, as he fought Suarez in his most recent bout on April 18 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
Start from the bell, Whittaker took control, and his trademark showboating was on full display. He finished the fight with a clean right hand that sent Suarez crashing to the canvas and secured a knockout victory in the first round at 2:24.
On the other hand, it will end Rivera’s long hiatus from the ring. He has been out of action since his knockout victory over Roger Guerrero last January at Palladium, Worcester.
Sharing the card with Ennis and Zayas gives Whittaker a high-profile platform to introduce himself to the U.S. audience.
Whittaker aims to make global statement as stacked Barclays Center card
The undercard will also feature Emiliano Vargas, returning in a key matchup. Vargas will face Bryce Mills in the chief support bout as part of the DAZN PPV lineup.
The 22-year-old continues his rise after a stoppage win over Agustin Quintana earlier this year and has been vocal about pushing toward a championship level.
Another notable contest features Jahi Tucker taking on Euri Cedeño in a middleweight bout.
Tucker will be looking to make a statement on home soil, while Cedeño enters as a highly ranked contender and presents a significant test.
For Whittaker, who has 11 wins to his name in his professional career, eight came via knockouts and one draw; it represents more than just another fight; it is a chance to establish himself on the global stage. And grow his fan base, which has already been building on his showboating skills and is backed by dominant performances.
With momentum on his side and strong backing from his promoter, Whittaker’s upcoming bout could be a defining step in his career trajectory.
A convincing performance would not only extend his winning run but also position him for bigger opportunities moving forward.
