Boxing news: Ben Whittaker ready for world title shot after Matchroom switch
Ben Whittaker insists he is now ready to fight for a world title after departing Boxxer for Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, writes Sports News Blitz’s Will Thomas.
Matchroom announced the signing of the Birmingham-born boxer with a movie-like announcement video, titling it ‘The level up is complete’ - rubbing salt into the wounds of Ben Shalom and Boxxer.
The Olympic silver medallist won his last fight in ferocious fashion, silencing any doubters after his draw over Liam Cameron by stopping the Sheffield-born fighter in the rematch in round two.
Whittaker has stated that he feels like he’s making his debut again, excited for his first fight under Matchroom banners.
In an interview on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel he said: “Things happen for a reason, and we’ve aligned.
“What Eddie has got going on is great, he’s professional and I’m at a certain point in my career where I’ve got the platform, I just need the right route, the right fights and the titles and Matchroom can do it - so it made sense.
“I’ve only had 10 but I’ve learned a lot - I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in those 10 fights. I think that little bit of experience I’ve got from those will take me far.
“I feel like it’s a fresh start, a new chapter and a chapter that I needed. My next fight will be like my debut again.
Whittaker set to fight in November
Speaking on the Ariel Helwani show, Hearn described the signing as a massive coup and said the Birmingham-born boxer is scheduled to fight late November.
"It's going to be the end of November, we are going to be announcing a new show shortly," said the Matchroom promoter when asked when Whittaker will fight next.
“He still hasn't had that many fights at any sort of level, if I am honest.
"I am looking at two to three fights quickly among that world level, and then we start pushing him in with the names that I said.
"I like Willy Hutchinson, Joshua Buatsi, Anthony Yarde and obviously Callum [Smith] is our guy.
"This guy is going to put bums on seats. Everyone has an opinion on him.
"Love or hate, he doesn't care. It is a massive coup."
What’s happening to Boxxer now?
Whittaker made his professional debut for Boxxer beating Greg O’Neil in 2022 after signing for Ben Shalom’s promotion off the back of winning silver in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
This isn’t the first staple name fighter to leave Boxxer in recent months; both Savannah Marshall and Joshua Buatsi left the organisation earlier this year.
Boxxer are now signed to broadcaster BBC, airing their first event on October 25 as Frazer Clarke aims to dust off his brutal loss to Fabio Wardley with a win against Jamie TKV in Derby.
This will be the first boxing event in the UK broadcasted on terrestrial TV since December 2024 when Lauren Price vs Jessie McCaskill was shown on BBC Wales and iPlayer.
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