Ben Whittaker vs Richard Rivera Preview June 27th, 2026
There’s a decent 10-round light heavyweight fight from Brooklyn, New York this Saturday, June 27th as unbeaten prospect Ben Whittaker of West Bromwich, England takes on Richard Rivera of Hartford, Connecticut. The fight can be seen live in most nations on DAZN pay-per-view on the undercard of the Xander Zayas vs Jaron Ennis showdown. Whittaker last fought in April when he stopped Braian Nahuel Suarez in just 144 seconds. In his previous outing Whittaker halted Benjamin Gavazi in only 135 seconds to win the vacant WBC Silver Light Heavyweight Belt, which wi8ll be on the line this weekend. Rivera’s last outing resulted in a second-round KO over Roger Guerrero in January.
Whittaker vs Rivera Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Richard Rivera +910
- Ben Whittaker -2500
My Pick
The 29-year-old Whittaker makes the ring walk with a near-perfect mark of 11-0-1 with 8 Ko’s and has boxed 56 rounds since making his pro debut in 2022 following a stellar amateur career which saw him reportedly go 53-13. He captured a silver medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. He also won a silver at the 2019 European Games as well as a bronze at the 2019 World Championships and a gold at the 2018 EU Championships.
As a pro, Whittaker won the vacant IBF International Light Heavyweight Title in June, 2024 with a unanimous 10-round decision over Eworitse Ezra Arenyeka. He fought for the vacant WBO Global Light Heavyweight Belt four months later against Liam Cameron but the fight ended in a six-round technical draw after both boxers fell out of the ring and Whittaker couldn’t continue. The pair met in a rematch six months later with Whittaker halting Cameron in the second round to retain his IBF Title.
Whittaker measures 6-feet-3-inches tall for a three-inch edge in height over Rivera and reportedly has a 75-inch reach. As far as power is concerned, he has enough of it to do some damage as 72.7 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage including his last three. However he’s more known for his unorthodox style and showboating in the ring while feinting and slipping punches. Whittaker enters the fight while ranked number two in the world by the WBC, eight by the WBA and 13th by the WBO.
As for the hard-hitting Rivera, the 35-year old owns a record of 27-2 with 20 Ko’s and he has banked 124 rounds since making his pro debut in 2017 following his amateur career. He stands six-feet-tall with an unlisted reach and also has plenty of power in his fists as 74.1 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage. He’s gone the distance in two of his last three fights and in three of his past six though. His first defeat came at the hands of former world champion Badou Jack in 2022 via a 10-round split decision.
The second loss for Rivera was an eight-round majority decision to Luis Antonio Tejeda in 2024. Rivera captured the vacant Universal Boxing Federation All American Light Heavyweight Belt in 2018 when he stopped Kevin Cobbs in the third round. He then added the vacant American Boxing Federation Inter-Continental Cruiserweight Crown the same year via an eight-round TKO over Jaime Solorio but the decision was later changed to a no-contest after Rivera failed a drug test. Rivera is basically a journeyman and just 13 of his 29 opponents entered the ring with a winning record.
Prediction…
Rivera certainly has plenty of power but that’s about all he can match when it comes to Whittaker’s skills. He has a puncher’s chance here if he catches the elusive Whittaker on the chin but that’s a lot easier said than done. Whittaker will try to avoid any type of firefight by using his superior boxing skills and footwork and of course will engage in some showboating while he’s at it. Whittaker is six years younger and shouldn’t have much of a problem winning this fight with a stoppage also being a possibility.
Whittaker will use slick boxing skills to avoid Rivera’s power.
Play: Whittaker -2500 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Ben Whittaker betting • Richard Rivera betting