Ben Whittaker during a press conference at Glaziers Hall, London. Picture date: Thursday February 13, 2025. (Photo by Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)
(Zac Goodwin – PA Images via Getty Images)
Ben Whittaker will not conform to the image expected by his detractors.
The charismatic — some will argue, arrogant — light heavyweight swears he’s made the necessary changes for this stage of his pro career. Just a small part of those changes, though, can be contributed to his previous outing, a technical split decision draw with Liam Cameron this past October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Whittaker closed as a -2000 favorite on BetMGM lines that night, yet he wasn’t in the ring when the decision was announced — or even at fight’s end.
The conclusion to their wild affair saw both fighters tumble over the top of the ring after Cameron leaned on Whittaker while along the ropes late in the fifth round. Sheffield’s Cameron landed on top of Whittaker, who then complained of a leg injury. He was escorted via wheelchair to his dressing room, while the cards were announced and resulted in his first career blemish.
It wasn’t a loss, despite arguments from those who felt Cameron was jobbed after a surprisingly competitive contest.
All the proof that Whittaker can offer of a new and improved version of himself will come in their rematch, he’s promised. The two run it back on Easter Sunday in front of a nearly sold-out Co-op Live in Manchester, England. Whatever fans chose to still ride with him will be in for a treat, the 2020 Olympic silver medalist has assured.
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As for everyone else who’ve turned their back on his career prospects?
“Everyone who’s been on that side, stay on that side,” Whittaker requested of his naysayers.
Dealing with criticism is hardly a new development for the 27-year-old West Bromwich native.
Showmanship has always been a part of Whittaker’s game, dating back to his storied amateur career. With that has come harsh commentary, with some going as far as to suggest that he is not serious about his craft given his in-ring antics, which are viewed as quality entertainment or disrespectful showboating, depending on the viewpoint.
The best proof of Whittaker’s win-or-go-home mindset came from his highest boxing achievement to date.
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The silky-smooth boxer advanced to the gold medal round of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, proudly representing Great Britain. There was the sense even in each win that he could have made things much easier on himself with a more determined effort.
Yet it was later learned that he fought through a three-year-old torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder that nearly cost him a spot on the Great Britain squad.
There exists the argument that the injury cost him a gold medal, as he lost a decision to Cuba’s Arlen Lopez in the final round of the light heavyweight bracket. It was still a hell of a run by a then 24-year-old Whittaker, who ousted a pair of two-time Olympians and heavily favored Imam Khataev.
Whittaker was one of six boxers from Great Britain to medal, tied for best during the Tokyo Olympics. As far as he was concerned, however, it was still just a second-place finish.
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“You don’t win silver, you lose gold,” Whittaker commented at the time, after refusing to sport his silver medal during the awards ceremony. “I’m very disappointed — I feel like a failure.
“I’ll come back, trust me.”
Ben Whittaker and Imam Khataev after their men’s light heavyweight semifinal bout during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. (Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
(Brendan Moran via Getty Images)
Nearly a full year later, Whittaker embarked on his pro journey. His shoulder surgery went well enough to bring him to full health but still caused a longer-than-preferred delay from his final amateur bout.
From his July 2022 pro debut through present day, Whittaker — once an aspiring rapper who went by B£NZO — has served as a polarizing figure. He’s also served as a ratings magnet.
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A highlight reel, complete with his “Drunken Master” display, of his fifth-round knockout of Khalid Graidia — a 10-13-5 fighter at the time — generated more than 5 million views in shared clips by promoter BOXXER and Sky Sports, who will air this weekend’s rematch with Cameron.
His eight-round points win over Leon Willings last Easter Sunday was rewatched by more than 5.6 million viewers on Sky Sports’ YouTube channel. Another 5.3 million have watched the replay of his near-disastrous first fight with Cameron, which left his record at 8-0-1 (5 KOs).
Extra attention has been afforded the buildup to the second act. Much of it was derived from the controversy over the exact scheduled rounds for the fight — Cameron was led to believe it was 12 rounds, while BOXXER and the British Boxing Board of Control insisted it was 10.
The matter was ultimately resolved, with Cameron getting financially compensated for the inconvenience. Whittaker decided to have some more fun with the issue, though.
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“Last night, I was told it was eight rounds,” Whittaker quipped to host Andy Scott during Friday’s press conference. “I thought it was an eight-rounder.”
His humor is not to be assumed as a lack of preparation. That simply won’t fly with Andy Lee, the former WBO middleweight champion who’s taken over the reins as head trainer for the outspoken light heavyweight.
Whittaker himself viewed the move as a necessity, though not entirely due to his last performance. Something was missing, a void quickly filled by Lee.
“First, we’re in Ireland,” noted Whittaker of training away from home and freeing himself of any potential distractions. “We got structure. It’s been a great camp. I’m picking up things, I’m learning things. He’s a great person to be with.
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“It’s funny that people think we only started working together when we announced it. We’ve been together for a good while. We announced it when we announced it, but we’ve been in the gym together, been going back and forth to Ireland.”
Ben Whittaker (right) surprisingly struggled with Liam Cameron before their October bout ended in a premature draw. (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed)
(REUTERS / Reuters)
The promise was a more disciplined performance this weekend. That’s not to be interpreted as a switch to traditional boxing, as opposed to the usual fun enjoyed by Whittaker both in and out of the ring.
What he has conceded was the version of Whittaker that arrived to fight Cameron last October was at risk of suffering his first career defeat. It doesn’t make that night a wake-up call though; rather, a missed opportunity by the opponent he soon faces for the second time in seven months.
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“I believe that was the best chance to get me and he didn’t,” Whittaker insisted. “Now Sunday, it’s all fresh. It’s all new.”
But what about the lesson he learned from that night?
“I look good, even on the floor,” joked Whittaker.
That answer — or any other that he had to offer — wasn’t what his familiar foe wanted to hear.
“It’s beyond disrespect at this point,” Cameron said of Whittaker’s recap of their first fight. “You know what? May the best man win. I’ve done my training. He’s had six weeks with Andy Lee. May the best man win.”
Whittaker only slightly changed his tune, just enough to remind Cameron just how serious he is about having his hand raised this time around.
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There does exist the win-or-go-home mindset, but not because Whittaker believes the outcome of the first fight has lowered his ceiling. Simply, because there has always been a faction of this sport who tunes in for no other reason than for the hope it will be the night they see Whittaker fail.
“For me, I think every fight, my career’s been on the line,” insisted Whittaker. “I can’t say, ‘Oh, because it’s Liam Cameron number two, my career’s on the line.’ Being the person I am, I’m the head honcho. Everybody wants to take me off the top, and because of what happened — a silly little night — it’s opened up this door for him.
“He wants more, he’s hungry. He’s tasted it now, but I got to take that food off the plate.”
The confident Brit promised to get it done in his usual entertaining style and entirely on his terms.
“There’s no need to [deliver] — I will,” Whittaker promised. “I got nothing against Liam. It’s just another fight. I’m happy for what’s happened to his career.
“Sadly, that ends Sunday.”