Probably an unpopular opinion but I don’t mind the showboating and have no issues with what he’s doing. I enjoy watching it apart from the fouls which should be penalised. It’s disrespectful but boxing has disrespect all over from fighters to promoters. At the end of the day he’s building it up to a point where if he gets schooled or KO’d it will be incredibly satisfying for those who don’t like it. Hopefully they step him up quickly though now.
I don't mind a bit of showboating, I just hate it when it's against someone who is several levels below. A lot of these journeymen don't earn a lot, getting knocked out as well as being mocked during the fight is a bit much for me. When he starts being matched in competitive fights I probably won't mind as much. He's clearly a very talented fighter and has an entertaining style, but I just can't help but root for the underdog
Yeah totally understand that mate. But on the flip side, it’s equally awful to watch someone levels above their opponent brutally blast them out in round one anyway. I think the bigger issue there is that these absolute mismatches need to be stopped completely. Showboating or not. I think if you asked me as a fan what would I rather see, a brutal KO over a far less talented opponent or a guy clowning around a bit, I’d choose the latter.
I dont mind the showboating to an extent, but i think he takes it a bit too far. i get why he does it, hes building a profile, putting on a show and weather you like him or hate him he has people tuning in to watch him and talk about him. I would say regarding respect in his post fight interviews the first thing he seems to do is thank his opponant so i guess that offsets it a little but i can see why people would take a dislike to him. I hope they step him up quickly now, hes clearly a talented fighter - but you do wonder how much he will have to kerb the showboating against better fighters
He's an interesting character, he contrast the showboating when he speaks imo. Very switched on lad who knows what he needs to do to get where he wants to go, there won't be any shortcuts with him. My main doubt about him is his power as he steps up in class.
I don't mind the showboating BUT , I want to see him do that in Vs a World champion? , let's say Beterbiev, would he do that Vs him? I don't think so , so he will do it's Vs lower level opponent then that's just disrespectful because he knows he can get away with it with them and not with the big boys ... That's sad ..
Don’t mind the showboating personally, equally I did enjoy the ref getting on his case about that stupid backhand he threw! It’s more the level of opposition for me. He needs to step it up from journeymen into domestic guys who will give him a solid fight. Doesn’t need to be European level guys yet but Summers/Pitters/Edmondson etc should be the level of his next two fights over 10.
As others have said , don’t mind showboating but it’s the level of opponent that frustrate me who he is doing it against.
against 10-14 forty year old French nightclub doormen, it’s absolutely pathetic looks like he won’t be able to take it either. when the Cuban beat him in the Olympic final, he sulked like a child and wouldn’t wear his silver medal on the podium
He seemed to throw the towel in during that Olympic final too and was content to coast to a wide points loss. Are his opponents similar level to that of Eubank Jnrs first career bouts? If so there is a reason for that when you have Joe Joyce straight in with better opponents from his debut. Appreciate he didn’t have time to muck about as he was older, but they were meaningful tests early which is clearly what wannabe Hamed, Whittaker is not getting.
I'd say Whittakers opponents haven't been as bad as some of the dross Eubank Jr fought in his Channel 5 and Boxnation days but he definitely needs to step it up by a couple of levels this year.
I'm on board fck it. British boxing is crap right now so at least it's a talking point. Also think he comes across well in interviews outside of fight week & stuff.
