Ben Whittaker put a commanding finish to the minor Ezra Arenyeka sub-plot in his profession as he cruised via a one-sided, occasionally-ugly game to clinch a unanimous resolution win within the co-main match at Selhurst Soil on Saturday.
Whittaker, who had walked to the hoop subsidized by means of an orchestra, toyed and out-classed his opponent, who had join a playground at the similar degree because the Olympian by means of gate-crashing his press convention forward of his endmost day out towards Leon Willings.
Whittaker used to be headbutted by means of a displeased Arenyeka on the finish of the 6th spherical, sooner than being elbowed to the face within the 7th as a fiery build-up crept into the hoop.
However they might turn out mini blemishes in an in a different way dominant efficiency for Whittaker, who used to be slightly drawn out of first equipment as he claimed it 100-89, 99-90, 99-90 at the playing cards.
Victory lifts Whittaker to 8-0 as a certified as he now seems in opposition to a possible leading match then then within the generation, along side hugely more difficult fighters amid his be on one?s feet during the light-heavyweight ranks.
The gulf in skill used to be unmistakable straight away as Whittaker shelved any early showboating to bring to ship a message in the best way of Arenyeka and any possible opportunistic suitors who could be pondering of matching gate-crashing exploits.
Arenyeka were highly-critical of Whittaker’s showmanship throughout the build-up to the combat, however quickly discovered himself succumbing to the theatre because the pair exchanged dance strikes in the course of the hoop.
It used to be again to paintings moments then within the method of a flurry of Whittaker jabs that will precede a frightening overhand proper and a perfectly-timed left upper-cut to the face of Arenyeka, who upcoming discovered himself at the receiving finish of 2 slick frame photographs as Whittaker slid to his left.
A wild trade virtually noticed Whittaker speed Arenyeka for a piggy-back as The African King’s momentum swung him across the again of his opponent.
Whittaker persevered to reveal his great arsenal with a spiteful proper hand during the barricade of Arenyeka early within the fourth, indistinguishable it with a stiff frame shot arrange by means of a feint sooner than he started to bob-and-weave on the optical of a few wayward proper palms on the ropes.
Arenyeka upcoming felt the results of a roguish Whittaker series wherein he delivered a quickfire three-punch aggregate sooner than ducking the next reaction to shed his opponent falling ahead into the ropes.
Arenyeka went at the assault early within the 6th, charging ahead with 3 mis-placed photographs sooner than consuming two prodded, patronising jabs for his troubles. Whittaker drew on his variation once more with some other plunging frame shot, sooner than unloading a vicious attack on the ropes towards his tiring counterpart.
He slapped him with a proper hook, squeezed in an upper-cut and upcoming dropped to the frame all over again.
Later got here a flash-point as Whittaker walked Arenyeka again in opposition to his nook in jest on the finish of the spherical, prompting a head-butt from his disgruntled challenger.
Tempers upcoming flared once more in spherical seven when Arenyeka flung a backwards elbow into the face of Whittaker throughout a conserve on the ropes, giving the referee incorrect selection however to speed some extent from him.
For all of Arenyeka’s trade and toughness, it used to be Whittaker in cruise regulate for the general two rounds sooner than the indicators of a stoppage alternative emerged within the ultimate seconds of the competition with Arenyeka stumbling round on the lookout for the bell.
It could constitute the largest degree Arenyeka will style in his profession. For Whittaker, he is aware of this is a mere step in opposition to some distance larger, glitzier days.