Whittaker made an extravagant entrance, accompanied by a live string ensemble playing WWE star The Undertaker’s theme before switching to “Icon” by Karen.

Despite being from nearby West Bromwich, Whittaker was greeted by as many jeers as cheers from the roughly 5,000 fans inside the arena.

The fight came alive in the third when Whittaker briefly staggered Wallace with a shot that skimmed his forehead.

Wallace’s travelling support made themselves 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 travelled nearly 4,000 miles from North Carolina after Whittaker’s social-media videos helped lift her spirits during 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 get lazy,” trainer Andy Lee told Whittaker, who regained control before an almost disastrous 10th round.

Wallace hurt him with a thudding southpaw left before Whittaker walked on to a huge shot and looked in serious trouble.

Whittaker briefly got some respite when Wallace was warned for punching on the break, but he continued pushing forward as a major upset suddenly felt possible.

Whittaker hit the canvas three times in the final round, none ruled knockdowns, as Wallace threw everything at a visibly tiring opponent.

By 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’ve got the best support in the world. This felt 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 the position to fight the winner of Bivol-Smith but it’s likely that won’t be until next summer, so he needs to fight in the interim.”

Ben Whittaker was left clinging on as he got through a torrid final round to outpoint Conor Wallace.

An Olympic silver medallist and unbeaten professional hope, Whittaker was looking to advance to world level in this IBF title eliminator against Wallace in Birmingham.

Whittaker showed off his skills over the first half of the fight, dominating proceedings as he commanded the distance between them.

He whipped hard shots into the Irishman, now based in Australia. Wallace however withstood them but Whittaker, who sprinkled in some of his trademark showboating, was so comfortably ahead through nine rounds that he seemed to be in complete control.

But that all suddenly changed. Wallace hurt him with a big shot in the 10th round. He punished Whittaker for holding his hands low, keeping that pressure on the Olympic star.

Wallace badly shook up Whittaker in the 12th and last round. He had Whittaker reeling and lunging in to clinch and grab Wallace. That saw Whittaker slipping and stumbling to the canvas, falling three times but the referee deemed none of them to be a knockdown.

Whittaker ultimately won unanimously, taking it 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113 on the cards.

Bilal Fawaz retained the British and Commonwealth super-welterweight titles with an impressive knockout finish as he took out Eithan James in their eighth round.

The top stories and transfer rumours from Sunday’s newspapers…

PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal are leading the race to sign Antonio Nusa from RB Leipzig in January – The Sun

Chelsea lost 2-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly to Championship side Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon as they prepare for the return of the Premier League – Daily Mail

Juventus want Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni – Gazzetta dello Sport

MANCHESTER CITY

Manchester council gave City owners ‘sweetheart’ property deal – The Times

The United Arab Emirates has reportedly warned the Government it could cancel big investments in the UK after Manchester City were found guilty by an independent commission – The Guardian

ACROSS EUROPE

Germany manager Jurgen Klopp has once again clashed with reporters after they raised questions around the absence of Joshua Kimmich from the current squad – Daily Mail

Barcelona have been forced to give some of their big name stars a day off – after cancelling training due to flood fears – The Sun

Swiss football club FC Sion have revealed mind-boggling new stadium plans – featuring a massive rollercoaster – The Sun

Roma want to sign Brazil striker Endrick on loan from Real Madrid in January – Corriere dello Sport

BOXING

John Fury called out his brother Peter for being a ‘cockroach’ after his estranged brother joined Anthony Joshua’s camp ahead of the Briton’s showdown with his son Tyson in December – Daily Mail