British light-heavyweight boxer Ben Whittaker will make his United States debut against American challenger Richard Rivera on Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The 10-round contest is part of the DAZN Pay-Per-View undercard for the unified junior middleweight title defense between Xander Zayas and Jaron "Boots" Ennis.
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Whittaker, an Olympic silver medalist weighing 174.4 pounds, enters the bout undefeated with an 11-0-1 record, including eight knockouts.
He holds the WBC Silver Light Heavyweight Champion title.
Rivera, nicknamed "Popeye the Sailor," weighs 173.8 pounds and carries a professional record of 27-2 with 20 knockouts.
Whittaker's Childhood Dream
Whittaker told BBC Sport that he grew up watching major Mayweather fights, including the 2007 bout against Oscar de la Hoya and the Ricky Hatton fight.
He said entering his first American fight represents the start of achieving his childhood dream of reaching Las Vegas.
"I call it baby steps. You start in New York, finish in Vegas," said Whittaker.
Whittaker expressed a deep personal connection to New York, citing his childhood familiarity with the Brooklyn-based sitcom Everybody Hates Chris.
"I'd say if New York means anything to me, it means Everybody Hates Chris," said Whittaker.
He noted that he has visited the city multiple times and appreciates its local music and fashion cultures.
"I just remember watching it and it was set in New York and Brooklyn.
Then you also come to a music culture, city has got a lot of music that I listen to," said Whittaker.
