Ben Whittaker put a commanding finish to the minor Ezra Arenyeka sub-plot in his profession as he cruised by way of a one-sided, occasionally-ugly contest to clinch a unanimous choice win within the co-main occasion at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Whittaker, who had walked to the ring backed by an orchestra, toyed and out-classed his opponent, who had secured a spot on the identical stage because the Olympian by the use of gate-crashing his press convention forward of his final outing towards Leon Willings.
Whittaker was headbutted by a displeased Arenyeka on the finish of the sixth spherical, earlier than being elbowed to the face within the seventh as a fiery build-up crept into the ring.
However they might show small blemishes in an in any other case dominant efficiency for Whittaker, who was barely drawn out of first gear as he claimed it 100-89, 99-90, 99-90 on the playing cards.
Victory lifts Whittaker to 8-0 as an expert as he now appears to be like in direction of a possible principal occasion later later within the yr, together with vastly tougher opponents amid his rise by way of the light-heavyweight ranks.
The gulf in potential was evident instantly as Whittaker shelved any early showboating with a purpose to ship a message in the best way of Arenyeka and any potential opportunistic suitors who is perhaps pondering of comparable gate-crashing exploits.
Arenyeka had been highly-critical of Whittaker’s showmanship throughout the build-up to the battle, however quickly discovered himself succumbing to the theatre because the pair exchanged dance strikes in the course of the ring.
It was again to work moments later within the type of a flurry of Whittaker jabs that may precede a frightening overhand proper and a perfectly-timed left upper-cut to the face of Arenyeka, who then discovered himself on the receiving finish of two slick physique photographs as Whittaker slid to his left.
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Have you ever ever seen this earlier than? Whittaker purchased out an orchestra for his ringwalk as he confronted off towards Arenyeka
A wild change virtually noticed Whittaker take Arenyeka for a piggy-back as The African King’s momentum swung him across the again of his opponent.
Whittaker continued to reveal his superior arsenal with a spiteful proper hand by way of the guard of Arenyeka early within the fourth, matching it with a stiff physique shot arrange by a feint earlier than he started to bob-and-weave on the sight of some wayward proper palms on the ropes.
Arenyeka then felt the results of a shrewd Whittaker sequence during which he delivered a quickfire three-punch mixture earlier than ducking the following response to go away his opponent falling ahead into the ropes.
Arenyeka went on the assault early within the sixth, charging ahead with three mis-placed photographs earlier than consuming two prodded, patronising jabs for his troubles. Whittaker drew on his variation once more with one other plunging physique shot, earlier than unloading a vicious assault on the ropes towards his tiring counterpart.
He slapped him with a proper hook, squeezed in an upper-cut after which dropped to the physique as soon as extra.
Then got here a flash-point as Whittaker walked Arenyeka again in direction of his nook in jest on the finish of the spherical, prompting a head-butt from his disgruntled challenger.
Tempers then flared once more in spherical seven when Arenyeka flung a backwards elbow into the face of Whittaker throughout a maintain on the ropes, giving the referee no selection however to take a degree from him.
For all of Arenyeka’s business and toughness, it was Whittaker in cruise management for the ultimate two rounds earlier than the indicators of a stoppage alternative emerged within the ultimate seconds of the competition with Arenyeka stumbling round in quest of the bell.
It would characterize the largest stage Arenyeka will style in his profession. For Whittaker, he is aware of it’s a mere step in direction of far larger, glitzier days.
