STWF Sports | Dec. 12, 2025 – The highly anticipated showdown between Ben Whittaker and Joshua Buatsi—ordered just two weeks ago as a WBC final eliminator—has been abruptly scrapped. The World Boxing Council announced the reversal on Monday, citing “Whittaker’s Silver Championship obligations” as the reason for pulling the plug on what many expected to be one of Britain’s biggest domestic fights of 2026.

The decision ends a whirlwind stretch that saw the WBC mandate the matchup during its annual convention in Bangkok, setting Buatsi and Whittaker on a collision course for the right to challenge undefeated WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez. Now, the path forward for both men looks significantly different.

Whittaker’s Silver Belt Defense Resets the Roadmap

Whittaker, who captured the WBC Silver title in November with a blistering one-round demolition of Germany’s Benjamin Gavazi, is now obligated to defend or further campaign with the secondary belt before moving into world-level eliminators.

The undefeated 26-year-old has quickly become one of the sport’s most polarizing and talked-about talents. But according to promoter Eddie Hearn, the WBC’s original order simply arrived too early in Whittaker’s development curve.

“I was pretty honest with our assessment of Ben going into his fight last week,” Hearn told talkSPORT. “We have to go through these levels. There are kind of three in the division—**Bivol, Benavidez, and Beterbiev. Then you have Callum Smith, Yarde, and Buatsi. Then you have Richards, Azeez, Hutchinson, Parker. It came a little bit earlier than we anticipated.”

In other words, Whittaker may be dazzling, but his team views 2026 as a year for calculated progression—not a leap into deep waters against an established world-level operator like Buatsi.

Hearn confirmed Whittaker will fight in the United States in March, part of a broader strategy to build his global profile before returning to the UK for a summer headliner. A summer domestic clash—possibly with Buatsi—remains on the table, but only if Whittaker demonstrates readiness.

“The Buatsi fight is an amazing fight,” Hearn continued. “I think he is going to go through all these domestic guys, so we have to consider that for the summer. If he’s ready, why not? But we have a plan with Ben.”

Buatsi Left in Limbo After WBC Reversal

The cancellation leaves Joshua Buatsi (17-1) in an awkward holding pattern. Ranked No. 2 by the WBC, Buatsi was positioned to earn a mandatory slot against Benavidez through the eliminator. Now, with no replacement order yet issued, he may have to wait for the sanctioning body’s next ruling or consider a return to domestic fights to stay active.

Buatsi and Whittaker retain their No. 2 and No. 3 rankings, respectively, but it is unclear whether Buatsi will soon be re-ordered to face another top contender such as Anthony Yarde or Callum Smith.

For a fighter who has long campaigned for a world title shot, the delay is a frustrating detour.

Benavidez Moves Up—But Keeps His Belt

Meanwhile, WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez continues to reshape the division’s landscape. The organization granted him permission to retain his 175-lb title while simultaneously moving up to cruiserweight to face unified WBA/WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez next year.

It’s a rare ruling, and one that further complicates the title picture. A Buatsi–Whittaker eliminator would have clarified the queue behind Benavidez, but with the champion’s next move happening a division higher, uncertainty now clouds the entire light heavyweight hierarchy.

What’s Next for Whittaker and Buatsi?

For Whittaker, the WBC’s decision aligns perfectly with Hearn’s long-term blueprint. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist will look to sharpen his skills, develop further internationally, and build toward a major UK fight night in the summer.

For Buatsi, the focus shifts to staying active and ready. A re-ordered eliminator or a high-profile domestic bout could be next.

What remains certain is that when these two finally meet—whether in the summer or beyond—it will arrive with far more fanfare, storyline, and stakes than the WBC originally imagined.