Ben Whittaker's Liverpool Blitz Sets Stage for Brooklyn Showdown

LIVERPOOL, England - The showman became the surgeon with scalpel-like precision on Saturday night. Ben Whittaker needed less than a round to dismantle Braian Suarez at the M&S Bank Arena, setting the stage for a long-awaited US debut. Whittaker (11-0-1, 8 KOs) was calmness personified, even lounging on the bottom rope before the opening bell. He teased and flicked his jab as Suarez trudged forward behind a high guard, offering little but pressure. But with the clock ticking toward the final minute, "The Surgeon" struck clinically. A sharp left hook to the body forced Suarez to drop his hands, and Whittaker instantly uncorked a right hand over the top that sent the Argentinian crashing to the canvas. Suarez (21-5, 20 KOs) squirmed on his back, his body failing to respond to his will. Referee Steve Grey reached the count of ten at 2:24 of the first round. After the victory, it was confirmed that Whittaker will finally get his wish. The Olympic silver medalist travels to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to feature on the Jaron Ennis-Xander Zayas undercard on June 27. "It feels good, baby," Whittaker said. "To take someone out in the first round like that, it shows where I'm at. The more comfortable I get, the more dangerous I get." In the night’s co-feature, former UFC star Molly McCann moved to 4-0 (1 KO) with a disciplined 78-74 points victory over the game Ashleigh Johnson. (Photo credit: Matchroom Boxing Facebook Page)

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