British Ben Whittaker opened his career with a second‑round stoppage of Richard Rivera at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Whittaker, known as The Surgeon, landed a right hand that Rivera claimed struck the back of his head, then sealed the bout with a crisp left early in round two. The referee halted the contest, handing Whittaker a 12‑win, 1‑draw record and signals his readiness for challenges.

Rivera suffered his third loss in a 30‑fight career, a significantly setback that could stall his rise in the light‑heavyweight rankings. Whittaker celebrated with a brief dance before returning to his corner, a trademark showboating move that endears him to fans but also draws criticism from purists. The victory positions him as a contender on a high‑profile U.S. undercard.

The bout shared the undercard with Xander Zayas’ title defence, where Zayas fell to Jaron Ennis by seventh‑round stoppage, marking Zayas’ first defeat in 24 fights. Ennis improved to 36‑0, underscoring the night’s focus on rising American talent. Whittaker’s win adds a fresh international name to the American light‑heavyweight scene and could spark new match‑ups.