Why boxing needs Ben Whittaker to shine on his Matchroom debut tonight

Matchroom shocked the boxing world last month with the surprise announcement that they had signed Ben Whittaker.

The unbeaten Olympic silver medallist has left BOXXER and will now box for Eddie Hearn’s promotional outfit, with all of his fights live and exclusive on DAZN .

Whittaker will make his debut for Matchroom tonight when he headlines in Birmingham on Saturday against Benjamin Gavazi and all eyes will be on him to see if he is ready to make the jump up to the next level in 2026.

After his success at the Japan games in 2021, there was a clamour for Whittaker’s signature ahead of his highly anticipated switch to the professional ranks and he turned over to much fanfare the following year.

However, things haven’t gone exactly to plan for the West Bromwich fighter and the switch in promoters signals a new start for him, but will it provide the platform for him to fulfil his undoubted potential?

It’s not just important for Matchroom that he succeeds, British boxing also needs Whittaker to come out of the shadows and shine on the biggest stage.

The sport on these shores has lost some huge characters in recent years, as there was a void left by the retirement of stars such as Tony Bellew, David Haye, Carl Froch and George Groves.

That gap was filled by the likes of Anthony Joshua , Tyson Fury and Chris Eubank Jr. but with those names coming to the end of their monumental careers, the stage is set for a new prominent figure to lead the British charge.

That is where Whittaker comes in.

While his ability inside the Olympic ring was enough to make him an attraction alone, it was also his flashy antics and charismatic persona that made him top of the shopping list for all the big promoters.

His style is easy on the eye, he looks the part and he certainly knows how to rock the microphone. That is the dream combination for a promoter and he fits the bill perfectly if British boxing is looking for a new superstar.

So, why hasn’t his career taken off as initially anticipated so far?

Whittaker yet to take off

The 28-year-old is unbeaten with a record of 9-0-1 (6 KOs) and at 6’ 3” with a 75" reach, he has all the attributes to go a long way at light heavyweight, but we are still waiting for ‘take off’ on his journey.

‘The Surgeon’ began his career in the paid ranks by dissecting and stopping Greg O’Neill within two rounds in the summer of 2022. Things looked promising but Whittaker was forced to go the distance of six and eight rounds respectively in two of his next three outings.

Then came a run of three straight knockouts but Leon Willings caught Whittaker and asked plenty of questions as the latter was far from impressive in his decision victory in March last year.

Whittaker was drawing plenty of attention for his showing off in the ring, with posing, posturing and gloating at the forefront of his performances, and while it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, everybody certainly had an opinion on him.

The man from the Midlands points to Prince Naseem Hamed as his main inspiration and while he has many similar moves to his hero, at least ‘Naz’ backed up his theatrics with his devastating power and that hasn’t always been the case with Whittaker.

The common theme in the criticism was that Whittaker offered more style than substance, with plenty of showboating and few fireworks to back it up with.

The voices of doubt grew even louder when, following a 10-round decision victory over Eworitse Ezra Arenyeka, the Whittaker train was almost derailed by Liam Cameron in Riyadh.

With the bout in the balance after four rounds, the pair both went over the ropes during a tussle in the fifth session and Whittaker claimed he was unable to continue due to an injury sustained in the freak accident.

However, he emphatically put the record straight in the rematch earlier this year, as a rejuvenated Whittaker blasted Cameron out in two rounds.

In his first contest with in-form coach Andy Lee after leaving Joby Clayton, Whittaker looked much more focussed and assertive on his way to an impressive demolition job. Was that the turning point in his highly scrutinised career?

Can Whittaker finally deliver on his potential?

Speaking on DAZN's Spotlight  series, Whittaker expressed his desire to show the world what he is capable of .

He said: “I’ve had setbacks, injuries, good performances, not the best performances, so for me it has been a bit annoying because I know what I can do under the lights.

“Hopefully, now I have joined DAZN and Matchroom, I can show how good I really am.”

With 3.5 million followers on Instagram, Whittaker has the potential to cross over into the mainstream if his talent and personality are sold in the correct way.

There is nobody better in the sport at showcasing a fighter’s story and personality than Hearn, so Whittaker’s signing with the promoter could be a match made in heaven.

Hearn has promised activity for his new acquisition and that could be just what Whittaker needs to fulfil his bold claims of being a world-class talent, as well as becoming the star attraction he sees himself as.

He must do the business in the ring now but if Whittaker is finally ready for take off with his new team behind him, then DAZN viewers could be in for one hell of a ride.

Watch Whittaker vs. Gavazi with a DAZN subscription

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

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