Ben Whittaker's flashy and unconventional boxing style, which has garnered significant attention, is expected to continue, despite his recent string of swift knockout victories. Whittaker, a silver medalist at the Olympics, initially gained prominence as a professional boxer due to his extravagant showboating and showmanship in the ring.
However, his recent fights have showcased his quick finishing skills, with three wins in two rounds or less. Since his disputed draw with Liam Cameron, Whittaker has secured victories over Cameron in a rematch, as well as against Benjamin Gavazi and Braian Suarez, with the latter two fights ending in stunning first-round knockouts. Whittaker attributes his rapid wins to his focus on taking shots and hurting his opponents.
"If the opportunity arises to take them out, I'll take it," he stated. "I've been working on sitting on my shots and punching through the target to inflict damage." Whittaker's trainer, Andy Lee, is aware of the unique aspect of his style, which combines discipline with showboating. Whittaker believes that mastering this blend will enable him to reach the pinnacle of the sport. He draws inspiration from amateur boxing, particularly the Cuban style, which emphasizes dominating opponents through evasion and precise punching.
Whittaker is enamored with this approach, which he believes showcases the beauty of boxing. "I fell in love with that style, and it's a hard one to counter or even adopt yourself," he said. "Many people view it as disrespectful, but it's just a different art form, like knocking someone out." Whittaker aims to utilize his distinctive style as a tool to outmaneuver his opponents and achieve "complete domination." He cites legendary fighters like Willie Pep, George Benton, and Pernell Whitaker as examples of boxers who had their own unique styles. Whittaker aspires to emulate these greats and make his own mark on the sport.
Following his victory over Suarez, Whittaker is expected to compete in the US during the summer before returning to the UK. A potential matchup against a domestic rival, such as Joshua Buatsi or Anthony Yarde, would be an ideal scenario for him.
"Domestic clashes are what fans want to see, so something like that back in England would be great," Whittaker said. "As a fan myself, I used to watch fights like Groves vs. Froch, and they were the ones that got you out of your seat."