Electrifying KO! Olympic Medalist Ben Whittaker Knocks Out Ben Gavazi in the First Round of Matchroom Debut
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
London, UK (November 30th, 2025)– In his Matchroom debut on DAZN, Olympic Silver medalist Ben ‘The Surgeon’ Whittaker scored an electrifying highlight reel knockout for 2026, when he destroyed Benjamin Gavazi, knocking him down with blazing hand speed, then knocking him out on his back at 2:15 of the first round, to win the vacant World Boxing Council Silver Light Heavyweight title.
Whittaker, 10-0-1 with seven knockouts, West Bromwich, United Kingdom, the International Boxing Federation International Light Heavyweight titleholder, used powerful overhand rights over the top to muscle Gavazi, 19-2 with 13 knockouts, age 30, Landau, Germany, fighting in enemy territory, to the canvas for the first knockdown. Whittaker continued his assault on Gavazi, when a pinpoint right hand power shot by Whittaker in close to the face of Gavazi sent Gavazi helpless to the canvas, onto his back, causing referee Mark Bates to call an immediate halt to the knockout. Whittaker made his statement to the light heavyweight elite. He is definitely out there and ready to do battle with the current who’s who of light heavyweight contenders.
It was a quick, brutal, vicious end to the brief contest, establishing Whittaker as a dangerous power hitter and an immediate world title challenger at 175 pounds, depending on what promoter Eddie Hearn does next. Whittaker is one class above Gavazi, exposing his 19-1 record as a horrific mismatch. Gavazi, despite his record, looked like a limited, flat-footed novice. Whittaker did indeed almost send his opponent in for surgery. Considering the sheer brutality of the knockout, Gavazi had better stay in Germany in the near future.
Gavazi received oxygen but appeared fortunate, recovering on his stool after the knockout.
Real Combat Media went 4-1-1 on the card, losing only one prediction on a split decision upset.
In the lead-up to the main event, a rematch, lightweight Cameron Vuong, 9-0-1 with four knockouts, from Blyth, United Kingdom, drew with Gavin Gwynne, 18-4-2 with five knockouts, aged 30, from Treharris, Wales, United Kingdom. The WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title remains vacant. Scoring went 95-95, 95-95 draw. 97-93 Vuong.
Middleweight Tom Cowlings, 15-1 with four knockouts, Newark, United Kingdom, came off the canvas in the fifth round and came back to score a split decision upset over the previously undefeated Aaron Bowen, now 7-1 with five knockouts, Coventry, West Midlands, United Kingdom, to win the vacant BBBofC Midlands Middleweight title. Scoring went 95-94, 95-94 Cowlings. 96-93 Bowen.
Southpaw Ibraheem ‘Spider’ Sulaimaan, 10-0 with five knockouts, Birmingham, United Kingdom, scored a sixth-round stoppage of Nico Ogbeide, 6-2-1, Birmingham, United Kingdom to win the vacant BBBofC Midlands Super Featherweight title
Veteran lightweight Zelfa ‘The Brown Flash’ Barrett, 34-3 with 18 knockouts, Manchester, United Kingdom, won in 8 rounds over Liam Dillion, 15-5-1 with three knockouts, London, United Kingdom. Scoring was 78-74 by referee Ryan Churchill for Barrett.
Female super bantamweight prospect Molly McCann, 2-0 with one knockout, Liverpool, United Kingdom, won in 6 rounds over Ebonie Cotton, 1-1, Rowley Regis, United Kingdom. Cotton was cut atop the forehead. Referee scored 58-56 McCann. Two-minute rounds.
Featherweight prospect Alfie Middlemiss, 5-0, Manchester, United Kingdom, won by six-round decision over Engles Gomez, 9-54-3 with four knockouts, Chinandega, Nicaragua. Referee Chris Dean scored it 60-54 for Middlemiss. It was the 53rd time journeyman Gomez has gone the distance.
Ben Whittaker was the victim of a robbery, returning home to find his house burgled while he was in the ring winning his latest fight. Whittaker’s home in Wednesbury, West Midlands, was broken into shortly after midnight on Sunday, November 30, 2025. The burglars stole several items, including his IBF International light-heavyweight title belt. The West Midlands police are investigating the incident.
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Robert Brizel – Head Boxing Correspondent