Ben Whittaker: A New Beginning

Ben Whittaker: A New Beginning

It is, in many ways, a new beginning for Ben Whittaker tonight. The sometimes polarising fighter starts his working relationship with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing in Birmingham against Benjamin Gavazi. The German has an impressive 19-1 record, but closer inspection tells us the 48th-ranked light-heavyweight according to Boxrec, will serve his purpose with little threat to the former Olympic silver medallist.

Whittaker, under his previous promoter, dazzled at times, flattered to deceive a few more times. He got away with one in his first fight with Liam Cameron. Without the infamous tumble, he would almost certainly have lost. Whittaker got serious, hired Andy Lee, and did what he should have done the first time around in his rematch with Cameron in April. Whittaker was impressive, but if he is as good as many claim him to be, he should have looked that way in the first fight. Was that really just a bad night at the office? The rematch and the manner of the victory suggest it might be

But at 28, Whittaker needs to get moving. A criticism of his past opponents is somewhat justified. But the question marks over the true potential of Whittaker still linger. The defence has been questioned, and so has the potency of his punch. When he steps up a few levels, will fighters with more ambition and skill just walk through him? Despite what happened with Cameron in April, the first fight is still a major concern going forward. But equally, that horrible experience and the ridicule that followed could just be the making of him. Time will tell.

Whittaker and Hearn are seemingly the perfect partnership. The showbiz aspect of their personalities seems aligned. But will the restricted audience of the DAZN platform be to his detriment? The Sky Sports machine is still more than useful in elevating a fighter’s profile. In several ways, fighter and promoter have work to do. I know ‘marmite’ sells, but the avalanche of boos he received on his own turf in April was alarming to a certain extent. His public persona needs working on; Hearn will most certainly help in that department. But ultimately, it is what he does inside a boxing ring that will define him.

Gavazi should offer enough resistance to make it all worthwhile. A Matchroom debut that will then be followed by the usual cheerleading and the sales department doing their thing. Ben Whittaker is undoubtedly immensely talented, a potential superstar even, but there comes a point when the show has to give way to a more productive end product.

Photo Credit: Matchroom Boxing