BEN WHITTAKER has parted ways with Boxxer and inked a long-term deal with Matchroom Boxing, hoping to reach world honours while fighting under Eddie Hearn’s promotional banner.
The news broke earlier this evening, confirming that after weeks of teasing his new signing, Hearn has managed to get this one over the line.
Whittaker, 9-0-1 (6 KOs), ignited his professional career back in 2022, just a year after he claimed a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Turning over with no small amount of promise, the talented slickster soon built his reputation as an audacious showman, making him one of the more polarising prospects on these shores.
His route towards stardom, however, swiftly took an unfavourable turn after a sixth-round technical draw against Liam Cameron saw him get properly tested for the first time as a pro.
Indeed, many were quick to dismiss the 28-year-old following his rather lacklustre performance in October 2024, but he nonetheless responded with a glittering display in their immediate rematch.
It was a blistering second-round finish over Cameron in April, as it happened, that firmly restored Whittaker’s status as one of British boxing’s most exciting rising stars.
Since then, ‘The Surgeon’ has continued to work under the tutelage of his new trainer, former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, while patiently awaiting his next assignment.
Now, though, it appears that the wait is finally over, as with a press conference taking place on October 17, it is only a matter of time before the unbeaten light-heavyweight returns to action.
“Ben Whittaker and Matchroom Boxing? It sounds very good – it’s got a nice ring to it,” Whittaker said in a press release after ending his three-year partnership with Ben Shalom’s Boxxer.
“Of course, I came very close to signing before. But I’m here now, and that’s the main thing.
“I remember being shown around [at Matchroom HQ] during Covid at Fight Camp and Eddie said he wanted to make me a star and make me a champion
“The plan now remains as it was back then. Of course, my popularity has grown and my profile has gotten bigger. But I think with Eddie and Matchroom Boxing, I will become even more of a household name and one day become a world champion.
“I’m ranked well with both the IBF and WBC, so that was another reason why I wanted to come on board with Matchroom, because I believe they will help navigate my path towards winning those belts at the right time.”
