Ben Whittaker's US Debut Announced

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Apr 29, 2026 6:37 AM ET

Ben Whittaker will make his United States debut on June 27 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn against Richard Rivera.

The fight is as part of the massive Xander Zayas vs. Jaron Ennis undercard. The announcement comes just 11 days after Whittaker’s win over Braian Suarez. Rivera’s last competitive appearance was a second-round knockout victory over Roger Guerrero in January 2025.

Despite the layoff, Rivera brings a respectable 27-2 record to the table. His two professional losses came against top-tier competition in former world champion Badou Jack and the heavy-handed Luis Antonio Tejeda. Following his win over Suarez, Whittaker has climbed to #3 in the WBC and #5 in the IBF light heavyweight rankings.

The Record

Feature	Ben Whittaker	Richard Rivera
Record	11-0 (8 KOs)	27-2 (20 KOs)
Age	28	35
Rankings	WBC #3 / IBF #5	Unranked
Last Fight	KO1 vs. Braian Suarez (April 2026)	KO2 vs. Roger Guerrero (Jan 2025)
Status	Rising Contender	Returning Veteran

Whittaker has been vocal about his desire to test himself against the elite. A dominant victory in Brooklyn would move him one step closer to a mandatory position against current WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David Benavidez.

Sharing a card with Jaron Ennis—who is making his own high-profile move to 154 lbs—provides Whittaker with the perfect platform to showcase his signature showboating style to a global pay-per-view audience.

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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