Ben Whittaker desires to “quiet the doubters” in an instantaneous rematch with Liam Cameron.
Whittaker’s October contest with Cameron resulted in a weird draw when each tumbled over the ropes and crashed out of the ring.
Accidents to his ankle and neck meant Whittaker was unable to proceed with the battle. The competition went to the scorecards and the technical determination resulted in a draw.
Criticism, gleefully stoked by Cameron, was subsequently heaped on Whittaker, who made his title profitable an Olympic silver medal in 2021 and by sprinkling outrageous showboating into his skilled bouts.
However Whittaker will not shrink back from a second battle with the unheralded Cameron.
He’s decided to “quiet the doubters”. His goal is the rematch, with no interim bouts.
“I want it. I think it’s the right thing next,” declared Whittaker, talking at an open exercise forward of IBA’s Champions Night time.
“I don’t make excuses – I went to the Olympics with a torn rotator cuff and no one heard me mention it before, no one really heard me mention it after so I’m not going to start [with] ‘oh my ankle,'” he added.
“It happens. I couldn’t continue, but when I go and beat him in the next fight, I’ll have a lot to say then.”
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Liam Cameron was livid with the judges after his battle with Ben Whittaker was scored a technical draw
On the primary battle, he mirrored: “I didn’t perform the best on the night which I wanted to.
“Truthful play to him, he is acquired a profession off the again of it.
“For me, at the end of the day, I took a little time off and I’m focused and I’m excited.”
Whittaker continued: “You never know what he’s going to do, with his promotional deal now he might have a different route [in mind], might think: ‘I don’t need that now.’
“However after the again of that, the way in which individuals have been speaking, it is solely proper. I simply wish to proper that improper, present how good I’m and transfer on to the following.”
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Ben Whittaker left the ring in a wheelchair after he sustained an ankle harm falling by way of the ropes throughout his battle with Liam Cameron
‘Count on him to do a job in rematch’
Cheavon Clarke, European title challenger and Whittaker’s Olympic team-mate, advised Sky Sports activities: “I know, from my time spent with him on the squad, that he’ll want to come back and prove to everybody that I’m the guy. I am what I was showing. Hopefully his injuries are quickly recovered and he’s able to get back in and do what he does best.
“I might anticipate him to carry out and do an excellent job in a rematch. From what I do know of Ben I might anticipate him to do a stable job. However Liam turned up and he did his factor on the evening so credit score the place credit score’s due.
“This is the fight game. It’s different. When you’re an amateur that’s boxing. When you turn professional it’s the fight game. It’s what you sign up for.”
