Ben Whittaker Signs with Matchroom

Definitely the best move for him

 

Not looking good for Boxxer.

 

Good move for him as Hearn has the experience to make him good money matching him against low risk opponents while billing all as 'dangerous opponents' or '50/50' fights. He simply waits for a vacant belt fighting a poor opponent.

Grossly overrated fighter for me and I believe when he finally steps up to challenge a genuine World Champion, the surgeon will need one to put him back together.

 

The view through Eddie Hearn's rose coloured glasses:

“He is phenomenal. This is the greatest signing to make in Boxing today. Ben Whittaker is a generational talent, and we are ready to take his career to a whole new level.”

Check you on that Eddie. Thinking not.

 

We can expect them to take the Josh Kelly route here. He was another highly hyped and flashy boxer who suffered a high profile loss.

It was February of 2021 when he was outclassed by Avanesyan and stopped. Notably this is a far higher level than Liam Cameron who beat Quittaker.

It’s coming up for 5 years next February since then and he still hasn’t had another fight at that level (fringe world level) and is now 31.

Quitakker is 28 though so I doubt they can match him below Liam Cameron level for another 5 years as that is his career done. But I definitely think he has 3 years of fights that he is expected to win. As he is marketable and they can put him in fight cards and memory hole that Cameron fight.

 

Looks like Ben Shalom’s unfortunately heading the same way Mick Hennessy did — pushed to the fringes by the bigger players. You can already see the signs: Sky’s cooled off, the backing’s not what it was, and his stable’s slowly being cherry-picked apart.

It’s a shame, because he actually came in with some decent intentions and tried to build something steady. But in this game, if you don’t have a major star or heavyweight pull, you just get swallowed up.

He really needs Eubank Jnr to put on a show in the rematch — it might be the only thing that keeps his momentum alive.

 

Eubank isn't really a 'boxxer' fighter regardless, he fights on Turki shows, he won't fight on Shaloms BBC shows.

 

Yeah, I agree — Eubank’s not really a BOXXER fighter and he’s clearly aligned with Turki’s setup now. But having BOXXER lads appear and prop up his undercards still shines a much-needed spotlight on them.

Even if Shalom’s not running the show, the exposure helps keep his fighters in the mix and gives them a platform they wouldn’t otherwise get right now.

 

True i guess, but Eubank only has like 1-2 fights left probs, after Eubank Boxxer have Azim, that is it for potential champions / stars.

 

Surprised there’s not been a quicker exodus of Boxxer’s big names since the Sky deal ended. Were they all waiting on that new company led by the old Boxxer guy to get the Sky contract, which has now been held up by legal proceedings?

 

One thing I will say about Whittaker is that he definitely has the potential, but he obviously has a big ego and attitude, and comes across as very unlikable. Fury was written off after one bad night against John McDermott at the British level, but then came back and fought him again, demolishing him, and went on to become world champion. Whittaker did the same with Cameron.

I still think he has what it takes, especially with the exposure he will get from Matchroom. Once Beterbiev retires, Bivol could move up, as could Benavidez. If that happens, then Whittaker could thrust himself into that world scene if he stays focused; it's not a deep division. He's also great for a casual audience with his social media antics and huge following.

 

That signing promo is the most cringe worthy thing I've ever seen. Embarrassing.

 

Excuse me if I'm being thick but who is
'That new company led by the old Boxxer guy to get the Sky contract, which has now been held up by legal proceedings '.