Ben Whittaker has lengthy been earmarked as a future world champion.
The sunshine-heavyweight dazzled on the Tokyo Olympic Video games when he received a silver medal. He’s unbeaten as an expert fighter.
Earlier this yr he avenged his contentious 2024 draw with Liam Cameron and appears to proceed his advance when he packing containers Benjamin Gavazi in Birmingham on Saturday.
“The showmanship, the profile, the noise is brilliant but my motivation is to see him become world champion,” promoter Eddie Hearn instructed Sky Sports activities.
The route nevertheless to a world championship at light-heavyweight is demanding. The excellent Dmitry Bivol, who went undisputed when he received his rematch with Artur Beterbiev, holds the WBA, WBO and IBF championships.
WBC titlist David Benavidez lately handed one other British light-heavyweight, Anthony Yarde a punishing stoppage loss.
Initially of this yr Callum Smith overcame Joshua Buatsi in an exciting 12-round battle to win the WBO Interim title. That has positioned the Liverpudlian for his personal eventual world title shot.
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Whittaker stopped Cameron within the second spherical of their highly-anticipated rematch
“The progress and the route has got to be perfect,” Hearn stated. “There’s the domestic guys, I’m talking Craig Richards, Dan Azeez, Willie Hutchinson.
“Then you definitely’ve received the extent above which is Callum Smith, Anthony Yarde, Buatsi or Zach Parker. Then you definitely’ve received Bivol, Beterbiev and Benavidez, which is an entire different ball recreation.”
It means that Whittaker must keep winning and even then could have a wait on his hands.
“He wants one other 4 or 5 fights [before a world title]. Can he compete towards these guys now? Yeah. Can he beat them? That is a tricky problem,” the promoter stated.
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A glance again on the first struggle between Whittaker and Cameron which was dropped at a untimely finish because the pair dramatically fell via the ring ropes
That will make a world title struggle extra doubtless for 2027 than subsequent yr.
“When you have someone like Ben Whittaker we don’t want to throw in an opportunity to challenge Benavidez or Bivol ill-equipped, ill-equipped in terms of experience. We’ve got to be ready,” Hearn stated.
“It’s a brilliant division but one I think he can win a world title in.”
