Light heavyweight prospect Ben Whittaker, Matchroom Boxing’s new signing, has said he will leave the matchmaking down to his promoters in his quest to become the world’s leading fighter at 175lbs.
The former Olympic silver medalist is one of the UK’s biggest boxing attractions and with Artur Beterbiev ready to fight in November and Dmitry Bivol returning from injury in early 2026, the plan is for Whittaker to be busy under his new promotional banner.
Asked about plotting a route to the top, Whittaker told Matchroom’s Flash Knockdown podcast: “That’s why I’ve joined Matchroom. They can do that for me. The good thing is that I’m 28, I’m still young for the division so I’ve got time on my side, I’ve got the skills, for me, it’s put them in front of me, I’ll beat them.”
Whittaker last fought in April, destroying Liam Cameron in two rounds in Birmingham. Before that, he and Cameron shared a bout that saw both tumble over the top rope that brought about an early end to their fight.
“I learned a lot. I learned how good I truly am,” Whittaker said of the two fights. “I learned what I should have done in the first one and I’ve learned you can’t take your career for granted. My popularity grew so fast and everything was happening at 100 mph and I got a bit lost with that fight, regrouped with [new trainer] Andy Lee, I really locked in, I really focused, and I showed you a serious me is a dangerous me.
“I think he [Lee]’s opening up my eyes to how good I really am. It’s a bit more of a calmer environment, and it’s an environment where you don’t get distracted. You’re in Ireland, it’s literally just gym and home, and a fighter like that is a dangerous fighter.”
Lee was a heavy-punching middleweight champion who boxed under Emanuel Steward and then Adam Booth.
Lee was also responsible for several of the generation’s most memorable knockouts, and that spite and power are things Whittaker is adding to his game.
“He [Lee] loves knockouts, of course, and I showed in my last fight I can hurt people but he knows I’m a pure boxer as well,” said the fighter. “You don’t get Olympic medals for not being able to box, so we’re strong in both elements. I only got to show it in two rounds, but hopefully through my career you’ll see more of it.”
Whittaker also hopes to lead the charge with big-time boxing returning to the Midlands, with the likes of Ibraheem Sulaiamaan and Galal Yafain also on the books at Matchroom.
Whittaker said he felt the Midlands had been “overlooked.”
“Activity is key,” he added. “I need to stay in the ring. That’s when you learn, that’s when you put the performances on so for me, an active year and hopefully a great year for me.
“Truthfully, if you ask me, if you ask Andy, what I’ve been doing in the gym, we’re ready [for the best in the division] now. But pro boxing is a business so for me, it’s do what I’m supposed to do in the gym, Eddie [Hearn], Frank [Smith], they can sort it out.”
Whittaker also said it was his dream to headline in Las Vegas having grown up watching Floyd Mayweather.
“I need to tick that off,” he said. “So maybe one day Ben Whittaker headlining there for the WBC, it makes sense.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn said this morning they would look to get Whittaker out before the end of the year and Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith told Boxing Social the plan is to box Whittaker four times in 14 months.
“Everyone was after him,” said Smith, who added they will invest heavily in the fighter. “But we truly believe in what Ben can do.”
