Ben Whittaker shares the one word to describe his expected performance in new chapter

The promoter may have changed for Ben Whittaker, but the light heavyweight prospect was still his confident self with claims that he will produce a 'sexy' performance against Germany's Benjamin Gavazi. 

Whittaker will be making his promotional debut for Eddie Hearn's Matchroom on Saturday night, live and exclusive on DAZN, with what he hopes is the start of a journey that will see him box all over the world and win a world title. 

With Whittaker touted for big things, every single one of his opponents will want to spoil his rise, and Benjamin Gavazi was no different when it came to Thursday's press conference.

Benjamin Gavazi ready to take chance of a lifetime

Making the trip to Whittaker's home turf in Birmingham, Gavazi (19-1, 13 KOs), is an underdog, and that's no surprise. 

However, judging by his demeanour during fight week, he will be no pushover. The first face-off on Tuesday night saw Gavazi draw Whittaker into a verbal exchange, and the German remained bullish at the press conference. 

"It’s the chance of my life, and I will take this chance. I have nothing to lose, I’ve come to win," Gavazi said.

"He is a big name, I respect that; he was a good amateur. In boxing, anything can happen."

Undefeated in his 10 professional bouts, there is very little in Whittaker's past outings where there are obvious weaknesses, but on such a huge platform, Gavazi has been given the chance of a lifetime to immediately assert himself into the upper echelons of the light heavyweight rankings.

While Gavazi's confidence was there for everyone to see, but he was not letting this approach cloud his prediction when it comes to how the fight will play out at the bp pulse LIVE. 

"We have a game plan, I’m very focused, I don’t think about how the fight is going to play out. I’m ready to fight."

Ben Whittaker confident he will deliver special performance

For Whittaker, this clash with Gavazi will be just his 11th as a professional, but it's one that carries a lot of pressure and expectation. 

His showboating inside the ring and personality outside of it have quickly drawn both plaudits and critics, and it feels like it's the latter who are feeling smug, with 'The Surgeon' yet to deliver the performance that puts fight fans on notice. 

With Eddie Hearn and Matchroom now behind him, he has the promotional vehicle to take his career global, but this can only do so much. Whittaker has to show why Matchroom made the right decision to acquire his signature. 

When speaking at Thursday's press conference, Whittaker surprisingly was not too outlandish with his comments. Instead, he was calm and collected when asked about Saturday's contest and the performance he would like to deliver. 

"Come Saturday, you will see how special I am," Whittaker told the media. "Pressure is on all walks of life, the pressure comes from myself, I’m a perfectionist. It’s going to be a perfect job Saturday."

Whittaker, however, could not resist ending proceedings with a cheeky comment and a warning to the German light heavyweight. 

"I’m just going to look sexy and beat him down."

Trainer Andy Lee believes Whittaker can win a world title

If there is one man to keep Whittaker in check and not get carried away with all the fanfare, it's his head trainer Andy Lee. 

Whittaker-Lee first linked up for the Liam Cameron rematch in April, which ended with a second round stoppage for 'The Surgeon', and with big plans being put in place for Whittaker, Lee needs to guide him with an expert eye. 

Sitting besides of his fighter, Lee is confident he can provide the challenge that Whittaker needs at this stage in his career. 

"It’s a meaningful fight, he has not lost in a number of years, and he’s a real challenge," Lee said.

"Ben needs that challenge; it’s a fight we’re taking very seriously."

• Read next | Will major changes bring major results for Ben Whittaker who starts again this weekend?

In a sport like boxing, it is hard not to look into a crystal ball and predict an optimistic future. But when this foreshadowing comes from respected voices such as Lee's, who expects Whittaker to win a world title sooner rather than later, everyone listens. 

"He has all the ingredients to go all the way, and with this platform on DAZN and Matchroom, it’s there to be done.

"As long as we don’t go off the rails, stay on the track, continue the work he’s doing, he will be world champion when the time is right for him."

On the surface, it looks like Whittaker is surrounded by the right people who are not letting him stray away from the path, but he now needs to stand up and deliver against Gavazi and begin what British boxing fans will hope is the start of an exciting journey for a future superstar.

Watch Whittaker vs. Gavazi with a DAZN subscription

Ben Whittaker makes his Matchroom debut against Benjamin Gavazi exclusively on DAZN this Saturday night, November 29. Watch with a subscription, monthly and annual options available.

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