Ben Whittaker is a man of many facets, but only he decides when to showcase them all.
The sweet science distortions snowball as one of British boxing's most engrossing technicians continues to combine rich punch variations, blistering speed, and shrewd spacing with crowd-pleasing showmanship. is gaining momentum to gain worldwide fame.
He lowers his hands to overcome the swings of his easily demoralized opponent, chipping away at will, and responds with sharp jabs and unwavering authority over the fight's tempo. He calls for wicked three-punch combinations and brutal strikes on the ropes only on his own terms, and only on his own terms does he decide when to stop things. He feels that if he wants to get you out of there quickly, he can do it. In his mind, that's his calling.
Whether you like Ben Whitaker or not, the world is getting to know Ben Whitaker. The no-look backhand slap, the Matrix-like showreel of workarounds, and the ridiculous head slam in his final match against Khalid Ghraidia have a little to do with that.
But don't be fooled by its flashiness. The Olympic silver medalist is definitely not.
Security had to stop Nigerian contestant Ezra Arenyeka from charging towards the stage to challenge Ben Whittaker.
“I knew eventually this was going to happen. That's what I planned in my head and now it's happening, it's happening,” Whittaker said. sky sports. “The goal remains the same. If we don't fight the way we should fight and win, we will be forgotten. That's the main focus.”
“People talk about showboating, but at the end of the day, boxing is how you get there. I want belts, I want titles, I want to be world champion, but that will come someday.”
The box of tricks has never been a secret, but Battle of Glydia has the feel of a small breakthrough moment for Whittaker and all the recognition he represents. It's the most attention-grabbing yet of pizzazz and star quality that can uplift any atmosphere, with the confidence and controlled arrogance common to meaningful prospects and a killer ability to decide when enough is enough. It worked as it should. He will toy with you and then finish you. Again, on his terms.
This drew messages of praise from NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal and NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., although the latter may have something to do with the art of entertainment and mainstream appeal. There is sex. WBO lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson was among the prominent boxers who paid tribute to Whittaker, while American actor O'Shea Jackson Jr. even spun around on one leg in the ring after watching his performance. I started looking at the man I saw.
Whittaker's social media following has skyrocketed, his Nas-like theatrical showreels have taken over newsfeeds, and his stock has soared once again on his march to the world's elite light heavyweight division. At the same time, in this day and age when people crave superstars, they continue to divide opinions until a superstar finally appears. Any breakup is just a reminder that he's doing the right thing.
As Whittaker described Sunday's opponent Leon Willings, the price, or reward, for his rise to fame and the way he fueled it is that of a “bounty hunter.” That was underscored at Friday's press conference, when “African King” Eworice Ezra Arenyeka approached the stage out of nowhere and stopped Whittaker. Last time, it was Louis Edmonson who tried to introduce himself to The Surgeon.
Light heavyweight Ben Whittaker has told fans to expect something special when he steps into the ring at the O2 on March 31st.
His trajectory, his talent, and perhaps most of all his style, have fighters eager to share the stage with him. It is to express their disapproval of the way he has disrespected his opponents and the attention he has in turn promised them. For Whittaker, the magic that captivates people has meaning.
“One of the moves that the referee stopped (against Glidia) was me hitting him with a backhand or something. “I'm letting him out,” he explained.
“There's a method to it. I'm doing it in a fight. When I'm in the flow and having fun, I'm very, very hard to beat. I'm only showing what I want to show right now. , you saw.''In the first minute of that fight, I came out guarding well and boxing properly, whereas all the previous fighters had a showboat style that worked. Why doesn’t it work?”
“If I was showboating and lightly hitting them, they'd get past me, but they don't. So they think I hurt them or they can't get me at all.” Either I win and I stop him, like I did. ”
Outside of the ring, he appears relaxed and light-hearted with a genuine love for his craft and a seeming lack of any real intent to humiliate his opponents. The erratic twists, head feints, and pirouettes that dress up his displays are a conscious approach to controlling the distance of the fight and unlocking the different angles available to him. So far in his professional career, no one has dared to challenge him, making him a headache to decipher.
Ben Whittaker and Prince Naseem Hamed are both known for entertaining fans with their repertoire of showboating skills, but who is best at it?
“There’s a game plan and we have a game plan for everybody,” he said. “We saw him (Glaideer) play against Zach Parker and he was charging towards Parker and he was standing right up against Dan Azeez, so I didn't know what I should have done. The thing was to come out, meet him right away, hurt him and bring him back. Right away. When he felt like a couple, he was on the back foot, so that's when I took over. I was able to.
“It's a risk to get them open, to have a little more fun, I could have come out in tight guard and set up a shot and get him out of there sooner. But I could have broken him down and , I slowed him down, but he didn't.'' I didn't want to throw any more punches, so that's how I dismantled him. ”
If you dare to open up to him, he is too fast and too skilled. You step back and he pushes you into the corner. Whittaker believes he can fight any way he wants, and points to his amateur fight against talented Ukrainian Oleksandr Khynyak as evidence of unrequited grit and physicality.
“My first European senior fight and my second fight I fought against Hizniak. I was just standing there fighting and he took a huge step back from me, a skinny 75kg guy.
“I think people's view of me changed after that and they realized that I can stand there and fight. I don't have to show it yet, but I can do it.”
Ben Whittaker showed off more party tricks to the Wembley crowd during his emphatic victory over Khalid Ghraidia.
That's something Whittaker hasn't yet been asked to do since his 6-0 professional start, and he acknowledged it may have to wait until he gets a chance at a title. There is. When the time comes, he will be ready.
“I'm just showing what I want to show. There are many layers to my boxing,” he continued. “I can step forward, I can step back, I can stand there and fight, I can beat somebody. When the time comes and I start showing those skills, I start getting praise from the fans and they 'You realize, 'He's a really good boxer.'
“The style that I do is not an easy style, if anyone is doing it. I've mastered my distance and range and the confidence to put my hands down and get that close to someone. ”
Whittaker considers his method, from his individuality to his vast menu of techniques, to be a reflection of the art of boxing, and is proud of it, through which he charges towards bigger and better platforms. are doing. Glidea endured a great deal of Whittaker's imagination. I feel like there's more going on.
“The fans like it and I do it for them. I like to make them nervous and excited and want to come out again. When they boo when the referee stops me, I like to do it for them. When I saw them there (some of the showboats) I was like, “Thank you very much.''
“You only have one career and you have to enjoy it. I work hard in the gym and then have nights where I can have fun.”
