Ben eases way back on Resorts World bill

Ben Whittaker…third pro outing in Birmingham

IT’S been nine months since Olympic silver medallist Ben Whittaker slung a punch competitively.

And it’s fitting the 25-year-old – seen by many as a future king of the professional ring – makes his comeback on Coronation Day, May 6, on Birmingham’s huge Resorts World bill.

He joins a Boxxer Promotions card topped by Joshua Buatsi and knee-deep in such local talent as Kaisee Benjamin, Tyler Denny, Shakan Pitters, Cori Gibbs and Kirstie Bavington.

West Brom’s Whittaker – sidelined through injury – faces a fairly undemanding test for his third paid outing.

He faces Scotland’s Jordan Grant over six rounds, a man who has lost three of his nine bouts. John Docherty knocked him out with a body shot in the second.

“I’m back in the ring. My camp is going the way it should and I’m ticking all the boxes. Now it’s time to get some momentum going and that starts on May 6 against Jordan Grant in my home city of Birmingham,” said Whittaker.

Of the show itself, Ben Shalom, Boxxer founder and CEO, said: “This will be BOXXER’s first event in Birmingham and we wanted to stack the card for our first visit to Britain’s second city, so we’re delighted with this line-up.

“Ben Whittaker has been tipped for greatness by every boxing insider I’ve spoken to and we’re delighted to see him return to action and start rebuilding the momentum last year’s injury cost him.

“Kaisee Benjamin is taking a big step up in his crack at the European title and you can only imagine how heated Cori Gibbs will be as he heads into the ring to avenge that freak loss he suffered in December.

“On top of that we’ve got Joshua Buatsi making his BOXXER debut as he kicks off his world title.”