Ben Whittaker: Beyond The Ropes
“I think the difference between me and him is that he’s happy to be here and I meant to be here,” Ben Whittaker said at Thursday’s press conference ahead of his latest appearance inside a boxing ring.
Whittaker is almost certainly right. His opponent, the Australian-based Conor Wallace (17-1), despite coming to Birmingham with his own ambitions, knows he has been handpicked for his supporting role on Saturday night live on DAZN. The odds say he will go home with a second defeat on his record. Whittaker is expected to blast him away in style. The hype train won’t be derailed at the Utilita Arena if the pre-fight betting odds are proven to be accurate. Which they almost certainly will be.
The 30-year-old has a solid-looking resume. A majority decision defeat in 2021 to Leti Leti is the only blemish on his record. Three fights later, Wallace got his revenge, stopping Leti in six rounds. But there looks to be a seismic difference between Wallace and the opponent who will be in the opposite corner this weekend.
Ben Whittaker, the former Olympic silver medallist, has superstar quality. A fighter who might have to carry British boxing on his shoulders over the next few years. But at 29, and over four years in the professional ranks, we still don’t really know just how good he is. If Whittaker is as good as we think he is, he needs to get a move on and show us. He will need a little help on that score.
The 29-year-old hasn’t yet had the true test of his skills in the pro ranks. Limited opposition has left many frustrated with the limitations of the fighters he has been matched against. That might not change too much on Saturday night in Birmingham. A victory over Wallace will probably land him a world title opportunity. The fight is a final eliminator for the IBF light-heavyweight title. But is he really ready? Bridging that gap can often be problematic. Dmitry Bivol could be next. I say could; we know how boxing works. There are different, safer ways to win world titles. Vacant titles do come in handy at times.
Whittaker turned professional in 2022 with Ben Shalom and Boxxer, and there was constant criticism about the choice of opponents. But has anything really changed since the former Olympian signed with Matchroom? Three fights. Three wins. But just 426 seconds of ring time. Whittaker has looked impressive. But do those fights flatter to deceive? Time will tell. Eventually, you have to push the button.
There is undoubtedly star quality about Ben Whittaker. The early showboating and that scare against Liam Cameron have given way to a fighter who looks far more focused on the job at hand. The hook-up with Andy Lee is a masterstroke. It just works.
“You know what I bring. I bring the glitz and the glamour every time I step out,” Whittaker said on Thursday. “This is something different and something special, being back home once again with a massive crowd, so it’s only right that we go one bigger.” Bigger also needs to be better.
Wallace, to be fair, is a step up. Just how much, we won’t know until that first bell rings. Whittaker needs a few rounds, at the very least. Highlight reel knockouts are fine. Learning your craft and getting valuable ring experience is a little more important. If he does get in the ring with Bivol or someone approaching the same kind of level, Whittaker will appreciate every bit of boxing education he has amassed prior. Talent is one thing. But you need more. Moses Itauma is a perfect example of that. Everyone in the Ben Whittaker camp should learn from what happened to the latest British heavyweight hopeful.
Photo Credit: Matchroom Boxing
