Most fans are yet to make up their mind on Britain’s light-heavyweight prospect Ben Whittaker.
In seven professional fights since winning Olympic silver in Tokyo three years ago, Whittaker has danced and hopped his way around the ring while sometimes not even bothering to look at his opponent.
He has still delivered some spectacular knockouts, but his flamboyant antics are not for everyone, and the question remains: can he do it at the highest level?
His promoter, Ben Shalom, has no doubts. In fact, he is adamant he has someone very special in his stable, a future superstar.
For the past decade, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have grabbed most of the boxing headlines in this country. But they are now 34 and 35, respectively, and the Gypsy King lost his last fight against Oleksandr Usyk.
+8
Rising star Ben Whittaker is still yet to fully convince some boxing fans that he is the real deal
+8
His promoter, Ben Shalom (pictured), is convinced Whittaker is going to be a superstar
+8
+8
Shalom feels Whittaker will replace Joshua (left) and Fury (right) as the next face of boxing
TRENDING
Olivia Dunne responds to ‘Hawk Tuah’ comments under bikini pictures
85.8k viewing now
Jim Clark’s neglected final resting place feels like an insult
10.5k viewing now
England are THROUGH to Euro 2024 knockout stages
81.3k viewing now
Another defeat in the rematch in December could spell the end of his career, and Joshua is not going to be around forever.
British boxing needs its next household name to step forward, and Shalom firmly believes Whittaker, who will take on the unbeaten Ezra Arenyeka at Selhurst Park on Saturday night, will be the man to take over from Joshua and Fury.
Outlining his plans for the 27-year-old, Shalom insisted he will not rush Whittaker’s development, but he is ready to step up his level of competition to ensure he can move through the levels in the near future.
‘I think there’s a lot of pressure on him because of how much noise he’s making,’ Shalom told Mail Sport. ‘I can’t think of anyone in the history of boxing in that light-heavyweight division in particular, that after just a handful of fights is getting this much attention.
‘There’s crazy guys saying he should be in with [Dmitry] Bivol and [Artur] Beterbiev already. It’s not going to happen. He has to learn his trade. He’s supremely talented, he’s going to go right to the top of the sport.
‘He’s the most naturally talented fighter, I believe in that domestic scene. He’ll be in the big fights very soon but our job is to make sure he’s a superstar by the time he gets into them because we need stars in this country.
‘You’ve seen Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury possibly coming towards the end of their careers, and you’ve got to look at, who’s the next star? Who’s going to fly the flag for when they’re retired? I believe it’s Ben Whittaker.
+8
Whittaker is set to fight Ezra Arenyeka (right) on Saturday and Shalom thinks this challenge will bring out the best in him
+8
Whittaker has cruised his way through his professional career so far but Shalom thinks a step up in opponent will take him to a new level
I believe he’s the future face of the sport and he needs to be built, he needs to be seen in the right places. He’s going to headline next in his hometown of Wolverhampton. We’re then taking him out to the States for a headline show out there.’
Since his professional debut two years ago, Whittaker has had things largely his own way, with his opponents often opting for survival tactics to hear the final bell.
That is unlikely to be the case this weekend, though, given that Arenyeka has not held back with his criticism of Whittaker in the build-up, accusing his rival of acting ‘like a kid’ with his showboating.
Arenyeka boasts 10 knockouts in his 12 wins and his punching power could pose a problem if Whittaker takes his eye off the job at hand. But Shalom is confident that Whittaker will rise to the challenge and produce a special performance to potentially steal the show on the Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe undercard.
‘It’s a step up, let’s be honest,’ Shalom added. ‘To find someone who’s willing to come and be that confident and stick it on him, put him under pressure and be dangerous because of how hard he can punch, that’s the test that he needs.
‘I expect him to thrive in that environment. He needs fighters that want to win, he needs fighters that are going to come after him, and you’re going to see him at his very, very best. I think you’re in for something very special.
‘I won’t say too much about the ring walk and everything but with that sun coming down over Selhurst Park, we’re going to see him go to another level.’
This weekend’s world title clash between Billam-Smith and Riakporhe, with Whittaker on the undercard, promises to be one of the biggest shows this year on British shores.
In recent months, the majority of the sport’s headline events have been held in Saudi Arabia following significant investment from the Middle-East nation.
+8
Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh reportedly wants to create a Super League in boxing
+8
Shalom feels the past 6-8 months have shown what Saudi can bring to boxing and that ‘the impossible is possible’
Joshua and Fury have both fought in Saudi twice since last October, and the latter is lined up for another trip to Riyadh to take on Usyk again at the end of 2024.
Read More
Tyson Fury unleashes a flurry of punches as he returns to the gym after being escorted from a bar
Reports emerged this week that Saudi chiefs want to create a new ‘Super League’, with discussions taking place over a £4bn deal that would unite the biggest fighters and promoters from across the globe.
It is an ambitious idea, and Shalom admits he’d have considered it a little far-fetched in the past, but he now sees things differently.
‘I’ve seen the rumours as well as you,’ he said.
‘Twelve months ago, if you’d have asked, we’d have all thought there’s no way that’s possible.
‘What they’ve done in the last eight months is show that the impossible is possible.’
Shalom continued: ‘You can’t bet against them, can you? That’s all I can say.
‘You only have to look at what they’ve done in the heavyweight division in the past 6-8 months, in a stale division that wasn’t moving. And they’ve got the money to do it.’
