Light heavyweight contender Ben Whittaker is growing as a fighter, learning under his new trainer and wants to bag more experience in 2026 before he faces the best fighters in the world.
After just 11 bouts, the Olympic silver medallist is being linked to fights against some of the division’s biggest names, and while Whittaker is flashy, brash, and confident, he knows enough about the sport – and is modest enough – to admit he needs more seasoning before he moves a lot further up the ladder.
Whittaker was last week at the IBA Pro event in Dubai and he took in the IBA amateur World Championships.
“It's quite good,” he said, of being in Dubai. “There's a lot going on, but as an amateur I fought in it, so it's good to be back and see some of the kids that I've fought compete for the medals.”
Whittaker turned pro after claiming silver in the 2020 Olympics, and this year has moved from Boxxer to Matchroom, whom he boxed for the first time for last month, wiping out Benjamin Gavazi in a round.
“It was good, it was needed,” Whittaker told BoxingScene.
“I've only had to include two fights this year, it’s been an inactive year, so hopefully next year, start stepping up a little bit, then we'll see from there.”
It was not all good for Whittaker, however. While he was at the bp PULSE Live Arena in Birmingham to round off his 2025, which has seen him get around seven minutes of ring time, his house was broken into.
Whittaker, 10-0-1 (7 KOs), immediately appeared on social media offering a reward for those who could help him find the perpetrators.
“We got a couple of names, but at the end of the day, it shows you're doing something right when people want to do things like that, sadly,” he explained.
“We obviously won, I had to do all the media, drug testing, then my brother's girlfriend drove past and said all the lights are on and the police are there, so then I had to go back.”
Critics said Whittaker shouldn’t have been paired with the Italian, who was overmatched, but the prospect was just happy to get some more ring time, despite the brevity.
“Yeah, well, it's only overmatched, as people say, because I'm so good,” Whittaker added. “At the end of the day, he was 19-1. Some people's 11th fight [it was Whittaker’s 11th fight], they fought a lot worse. I just went out there, put on a very dominant performance, and I made the levels look different. So for me, I did what I was supposed to do, and we'll see what happens next year.”
Matchroom has clearly been delighted with their high-profile acquisition. In a sport driven by numbers, Whittaker’s socials are comparable with many at the top of the food chain. Boxxer, however, since parting ways with Sky, have linked up with the BBC. Was that a lure for Whittaker to stay?
“Yeah, it's a very good platform, but for me, I think anywhere I go, I can do some numbers,” Whittaker continued. “But it's not about the numbers now for me, it's about progressing in my career, being active and start winning belts.”
It started with Gavazi and once Whittaker had sorted the mess out at his home, he visited Japan again.
“It's like a second home, really,” he said. “A lot of people show me love there, the culture's good, they're very respectful. And it's the first time I've really had a vacation, really. So I had a little break, I'm out here [in Dubai] for a couple of days, then I'm back to the gym on Monday, so all good. I’ll be back at home, I do my first little block with my brother, so I do my S&C, sharpen up on some things there. I always like to go to [trainer] Andy [Lee in Ireland] in some sort of shape, so he's not killing me so much. I'm going to get into some sort of shape, then come January, I'll be over in Ireland.”
Whittaker has had two fights with Lee in the corner. Firstly, he wiped out Liam Cameron in their rematch. Then, came Gavazi – another quick win. And Whittaker can feel himself change with Lee’s guidance.
“Yeah, 100 per cent. I think my last two fights have showed that I still can mess around in there, I still can be flamboyant and showboat,” said Whittaker. “But if, like people said, the levels are different, why mess around and not get them out of there? Really, with Benjamin Gavazi, the old me would have probably made it four or five rounds, play around, get some clips, but I thought, ‘Let's just get him out of there.’ So my mentality’s changing a little bit, and it shows I can punch as well.”
And while Whittaker is preparing for them to take on the world, he is patient and knows that, after just 11 fights, he has plenty of time. His domestic rivals are getting older, too. He might or might not face the likes of Anthony Yarde and Joshua Buatsi – both promoted by Matchroom competitors Queensberry – but Whittaker admits he wants to get more experience.
“I've got the skill, but it's down to this, that's why I've joined Eddie, and I think he's a person, he's professional, he knows the game, he knows when to step you up, when to move you right,” Whittaker explained.
“And for me, all I can do is just keep working hard and beat who's in front of me. But I'd say I'm in a good position, I'm 28. For the weight division, I'm pretty young compared to the other guys, they're like 34, 35. So, if it's a crossroads fight, if it's a 5v5 or something like that, I'll be there, really. The end goal is to become a world champion. That's the main thing I set out to do. Anything other than that's a bonus.”
There are, however, other goals Whittaker has in mind. He wants to perform on the biggest stages and inside boxing’s most iconic venues.
“Just off the top of my head now, I'd like to fight in America, of course, Madison Square Garden, or MGM’s my favourite. But anywhere in America would be good, and start building it from there,” he continued. “I'd love to fight in Tokyo, maybe the Tokyo Dome, or do some fights where the Olympic final was. I'd like to go back there. I'd like to fight in Brazil, I've got a big following there. I'd like to just go all over the globe for me, it'd be good. Different styles, different coaches, different people, I'd like to tick all them boxes.”
Whittaker leans into his divisiveness. His highlight reels, showmanship and knockouts have seen his social media channels hit seven figures.
Does he feel he’s winning the public round?
“At the end of the day, I'm just being me,” he added.
“There's one thing that I like about myself – not to blow my own trumpet – but I'm just being me. You've seen me down there [in Dubai], I've done no interviews. I'm just watching the boxing. I don't really like to be in front of the camera, really. So if people get the real side of me, they'll understand me. If they don't, they don't. But as long as I'm winning and they want to turn up and watch me fight, that's the main thing. I've never been really disrespectful to people. I'm just going there. I've got a different style. I'm flashy. I like to showboat. But at the end of the fight, I shake the hand, I talk to the opponent. I don't know what else I can do. But at the end of the day, as long as I'm winning, as long as they're talking, you're doing something right.”
Whittaker signing with Matchroom saw the Jerry Maguire-style video blow up, with promoter Eddie Hearn screaming down the phone, “Show me the money.”
The introduction went viral.
“I'm in a good position, I've got a good platform, but I've still got to keep winning, keep performing. A hundred per cent [it caught the imagination]. There's only certain people that can do that and I think the match-up with Eddie Hearn, it worked out good, it came out good. A lot of people liked it and hopefully we can do some more.”
