British boxer Ben Whittaker made a strong statement in his American ring debut, securing a second-round victory over Richard Rivera at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Whittaker, known as ‘The Surgeon’, dominated the match with his speed and punching power.
The Midlands fighter floored Rivera late in the opening round with a powerful right hand, despite his opponent’s complaints regarding the punch’s placement. Whittaker, who is known for his showmanship, even performed a brief dance before returning to his corner. Early in the second round, a sharp left-hander from Whittaker sent Rivera reeling. Although the American managed to stand up, the referee decided to end the light-heavyweight contest.
This performance brings Whittaker’s professional record to 12 wins and one draw in 13 fights, while Rivera has now lost three times in 30 bouts. The match took place on the undercard of the event featuring Xander Zayas, who was defeated in a seventh-round stoppage by Jaron Ennis.
