(Matthew Pover / Matchroom Boxing)
Ben Whittaker is one of the UK’s most talked-about fighters.
The flashy skills and ring theatrics of the light heavyweight Whittaker have drawn much attention since his professional debut in 2022, and with that has come criticism. At times, he has appeared more interested in entertaining than ending matters, fighting with his hands behind his back or taunting opponents rather than removing them. There has never been any doubt about Whittaker’s talent, but questions have lingered about his intent.
“If you look at the whole division, no one really does it – no one can move like me, so it’s unique. Why take it away?” Whittaker told BoxingScene. “I look back at my career, even Leon Willings [whom Whittaker beat on points in 2024], I was messing around with him to the point where he went the [distance]. [The next fight, against] Ezra Arenyeka went the whole way because I was messing around.”
There seems to have been a shift, however, in how Whittaker now approaches fights.
A night to forget – and the catalyst for what was to follow it – came in Saudi Arabia back in June 2024 when Whittaker was given hell by Liam Cameron before falling over the ropes and injuring his ankle. The bout was ruled a draw after five completed rounds when Whittaker could not continue. He then brought in trainer Andy Lee ahead of the rematch four months later.
A more spiteful version of Whittaker emerged. Cameron was dispatched inside two rounds, with little of the usual theatrics from Whittaker, of West Midlands, England. That was followed by a destructive first-round knockout of Germany’s Benjamin Gavazi in November – a performance that suggested a growing willingness to close the show, rather than prolong it, from Whittaker.
“If the opportunity is there to clean them out, then do it before they can do it to you,” Whittaker said. “So that’s what I’ve got the mindset to do now. But it’s one of those as well, because as soon as I knock someone out like that, ‘Well you’re not dancing anymore.’ So you can’t really please everybody. But for me, we’ve been working in the gym, and I can hit now, so what’s the point of messing around if you can take them out? So with Benjamin Gavazi, we went out there expecting him to go rounds. I hit him and he was gone, so you’ve just got to take it while it comes. You don’t want extra time if you need extra time.”
The challenge now is whether…
2026-04-18 11:00:00
