Eddie Hearn floated Conor Wallace, Anthony Yarde, and the winner of Joshua Buatsi against Willy Hutchinson as the potential next steps for Ben Whittaker. Taking the Wallace rematch makes the most sense because it directly answers the questions raised by that shaky finish in Birmingham last night.
Whittaker left with the decision, yet Wallace buzzed him in round ten, turning the final minutes into a desperate scramble to survive. Jumping immediately into a premier domestic clash invites serious danger before Whittaker proves he can fix those defensive holes.
“For me, no, he needs another fight. Now when I look at it, I think that’s the [Joshua] Buatsi-[Willy] Hutchinson winner, that’s [Anthony] Yarde, or it’s Conor Wallace,” Hearn said post-fight about Whittaker’s next opponent.
Wallace carries built-in drama for a second meeting. He knows he can rattle Whittaker, while Whittaker knows he can dominate the rounds when boxing on his terms. A return bout tests whether Wallace brings heat from the opening bell, and whether Whittaker maintains focus once under fire.
A basic points win changes little. Whittaker must command the championship rounds, clear his head instantly when tagged, and shut down sustained rallies after eating a clean shot.
Facing Joshua Buatsi or Willy Hutchinson is an immediate leap into danger. Both carry the thump and ring wisdom to punish defensive lapses, and neither will give away the opening half of a contest the way Wallace did. Even the loser of that matchup represents an unnecessary hazard.
Anthony Yarde offers an empty proposition. His name still resonates with British audiences, but stoppage losses to Artur Beterbiev and David Benavidez offer critics an easy asterisk. His heavy hands remain real enough to flatten Whittaker, leaving high physical risk without the sporting credibility to match.
That leaves Wallace as the most useful next opponent. Keeping the rematch in Birmingham could build on the first fight’s drama while giving Whittaker a familiar setting to show improvement.
A controlled twelve-round performance would provide stronger evidence for the next step up. Hearn has bigger names available, but Wallace has already supplied the test Whittaker needs to pass more convincingly.