Will major changes bring major results for Ben Whittaker who starts again this weekend?

The next phase of Ben Whittaker’s development gets underway this weekend when the 2020 Olympic silver medallist faces Benjamin Gavazi in Birmingham . 

A professional for three years already, Whittaker’s short time in boxing has been mixed so far, but his two-fight series with Liam Cameron is perhaps the most significant stage of his run in boxing so far. 

In his first fight with Cameron, Whittaker appeared to be out of his depth during the contest as Cameron’s greater experience began to tell in the middle rounds as Whittaker looked uncomfortable. 

The pair went over the top rope and with Whittaker suffering an injury during the fall, the fight went to the scorecards with the bout being judged a draw. 

In the immediate aftermath of that contest, Whittaker was widely criticised for his performance with some even suggesting that he took the easy way out against Cameron. That accusation can hurt a boxer throughout his career. 

Making adjustments, Whittaker joined Andy Lee in Ireland, boxing’s current go to coach, and the results were instant as he destroyed Cameron in two rounds when the pair met in a rematch earlier this year. 

“A lot of people were coming out of the woodwork,” Whittaker says ambiguously of that time. “They were saying ‘Ben’s this, Ben’s that,” said Whittaker when speaking to The Ring. 

“And with someone like Andy, to get his time is a precious thing at the moment because everyone is trying to go there and train with him. But he actually messaged me. 

“He said ‘alright Ben, I know you’re going through a lot right now, I would love you to come to Ireland, you’ve got the talent, the doors open’. I thought I had to jump at the chance.” 

As well as a new trainer, Whittaker also has a new promoter as Eddie Hearn will now guide his career for the foreseeable future. 

This is now essentially day one for Whittaker. A complete reset in both training and promotion, but how big of an impact will it have on the Wolverhampton man? 

As it stands, Whittaker’s relationship with Lee is fresh, but it comes at a time when the former middleweight world champion is facing severe scrutiny about some of his recent results. 

In September, Paddy Donovan was outwitted by Lewis Crocker as he failed to win the vacant IBF welterweight belt after being disqualified against the same opponent earlier in the year. 

The following month, Joseph Parker was stopped by Fabio Wardley as he missed out on becoming WBO heavyweight champion just a few weeks later after Wardley was upgraded. 

Lee is in a position where all leading trainers have found themselves more than once, but Whittaker can get his coach back to winning ways on Saturday night. 

After taking the plunge of uprooting and placing his camp in Ireland, Whittaker is already making sacrifices to improve as a fighter and show people he has the hunger to succeed. 

Whatever happens in his career moving forward, regardless of how wealthy and successful he may go on to become, the actions of 2025 and placing his career in the hands of Lee and Hearn, could be the most significant choice of his entire career. 

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