Whittaker made an extravagant entrance, accompanied by a live string ensemble playing WWE star The Undertaker’s theme before segueing into Karen’s “Icon.”
Despite being from nearby West Bromwich, Whittaker was greeted with as many jeers as cheers from the estimated 5,000 fans in the arena.
The fight came alive in the third when Whittaker briefly staggered Wallace with a shot that grazed his forehead.
Wallace’s roving support was heard, only to be drowned out by an airhorn smuggled into the arena as Whittaker found his rhythm.
Among those in attendance were former UFC champion Leon Edwards and American Cassondra Gainey, who traveled nearly 4,000 miles from North Carolina after Whittaker’s social media videos helped cheer her up during her cancer treatment.
Wallace offered a warning of what was to come when he landed a heavy left in the sixth.
“Stay focused. Just because you’re comfortable, don’t be lazy,” trainer Andy Lee told Whittaker, who regained control before a near-disastrous 10th round.
Wallace hurt him with a thumping southpaw before Whittaker headed in for a huge shot and looked in serious trouble.
Whittaker briefly got some respite when Wallace was booked for punching on the break, but he continued to push forward as a major upset suddenly looked possible.
Whittaker hit the canvas three times in the final round, none ruling over the knockdowns, as Wallace threw everything at a visibly tiring opponent.
In the end, Whittaker had done enough to win – but not without giving Wallace and his support reason to wonder what might have happened with a little more time.
“I only have myself to blame,” he said. “I feel like I have the best support in the world. It was like my home show tonight, even though it’s in Birmingham.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn welcomed the possibility of a rematch: “We know Ben is in a position to fight the winner of Bivol-Smith but it’s likely it won’t be until next summer so he needs to fight in the meantime.”
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