Ben Whittaker is scheduled for his next fight on February 3 at OVO Arena Wembley in London, where he faces Khalid Graidia. The contest is featured on the card headlined by Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez.
Unbeaten Whittaker (5-0, 4 KOs) was in action last December, when he stopped Stiven Leonetti Dredhaj in the fourth round. In July and May 2023, the 26-year-old native of West Bromwich, England TKO’d Vladimir Belujsky and Jordan Grant in the eighth and third round, respectively.
Graidia (10-13-5, 2 KOs) fought to a majority draw with Nabil Kacel early January. Last year, the 41-year-old Frenchman made five ring appearances, losing four of his most recent bouts.
“The Surgeon is back and ready to start 2024 with another clinical performance. I’m putting the whole light heavyweight division on notice. Another big year is on the way so don’t miss the start of it on February 3rd,” Ben Whittaker said.
Also announced for the event, Francesca Hennessy (2-0, 1 KOs) going through the ropes at featherweight. In her previous outing last month, the 19-year-old of Sevenoaks, England defeated Lucrecia Belen Arrieta by points.
Plus, London’s 30-year-old heavyweight Jeamie Tshikeva (5-1, 3 KOs) looks to return to winning ways, following his first career defeat by TKO in the sixth round against Igor Adiel Macedo last September.
In the main event undefeated London-based Joshua Buatsi (17-0, 13 KOs) of Ghana faces unbeaten London native Dan Azeez (20-0, 13 KOs). The pair squares off in the 12-round WBA heavyweight title eliminator.
In the previously announced 12-round co-main event, unbeaten Adam Azim (10-0, 7 KOs) of England defends his EBU European super lightweight belt against undefeated Denmark-based former titleholder Enock Poulsen (14-0, 5 KOs) of Zambia.
The current Buatsi vs Azeez fight card looks as the following:
- Joshua Buatsi vs. Dan Azeez, 12 rounds, heavyweight – WBA heavyweight title eliminator
- Adam Azim vs. Enock Poulsen, 12 rounds, super lightweight – Azim’s EBU European super lightweight title
- Ben Whittaker vs. Khalid Graidia, 8 rounds, light heavyweight
- Francesca Hennessy vs. TBA, featherweight
- Jeamie Tshikeva vs. TBA, heavyweight