Boxing
Ben Whittaker is not subject to acceleration, says matchroom plan
Matchroom CEO Frank Smith explained that Whittaker’s opponent, Braian Nahuel Suarez, was already secured before a recent card reshuffle elevated the fight to main event status.
“Suarez has signed up to fight. We just haven’t announced it yet,” Smith told October Red, rejecting suggestions that the fight was a delayed adjustment after the original main event was canceled.
The decision also ruled out speculation about a much more complex assignment, with Smith saying moving Whittaker to this level of opposition “would be stupid” and “makes no sense whatsoever” given his current position.
Instead, Matchroom is treating this fight as part of a wider correction in Whittaker’s progress. Smith admitted that the soon-to-be 29-year-old “didn’t have the right opponents to progress,” while reiterating his long-term goal: “The job we have to do with Ben Whittaker is to make him a global superstar.”
The plan now is to raise activity and plan to have four fights before the end of the year as part of a structured build.
When Matchroom departed Whittaker from Boxxer in October, the buzz was that he was finally moving to the major leagues to fulfill his potential as a future world champion. Instead, we see the same careful selection of players that plagued his early career.
Most Olympic silver medalists compete for world titles in their 10th or 12th fight. Whittaker has 10 fights under his belt and is almost 29 years antique, and yet he still fights opponents like Suarez who, while hard-wearing, are not top-tier contenders.
While Smith says Suarez has taken a step forward, many fans see him as just another exhibition opponent. Suarez has lost when he’s been better in the past, like against Lyndon Arthur, so he fits the profile of a guy who makes Whittaker look good without being a real threat.
Matchroom is essentially using the same playbook that criticized Ben Shalom. Matchroom likely paid a huge signing bonus or guaranteed huge sums to lure him away from Boxxer. They can’t afford to lose it until they make back the money from ticket sales and DAZN subscriptions.
Whittaker’s value lies in his viral videos and appearance. Die-hard boxing fans want to see him fight Buatsi or Morrell, but Matchroom knows that casual fans just want to see him dance and get knocked out in the biggest moments.
Considering Beterbiev, Bivol and Benavidez hold all the cards, there isn’t much room at the top right now. Matchroom is probably killing time until all three move on or get antique.
By calling it a “controlled rebuild,” Frank Smith is basically admitting that they aren’t ready to find out how good Whittaker is yet. They would rather have a “global superstar” on paper than a world champion who may lose on the way to the top. A world superstar on paper is the boxing equivalent of a paper champion.
Whittaker remains one of the company’s most high-profile prospects, but the approach outlined by Smith suggests a controlled rebuild rather than a quick track toward elite opposition.
Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue’s future plans are starting to take shape after promoter Hideyuki Ohashi revealed that a large fight is already planned for February 2027.
“Right now we’re working on the December pairing. Then next February, if I say there’s a large fight, you’ll probably know what I’m talking about. It’s already in the works. Then we’ll do another one in an amazing place,” Ohashi said to Yahoo Japan.
The comments included mentioning the opponent, but they will probably intensify speculation about the fight with Jesse Rodriguez. The undefeated American recently moved up to bantamweight and won the WBA title with a victory over Antonio Vargas.
Rodriguez’s trainer, Robert Garcia, has indicated that the plan is for Rodriguez to have one more fight before moving up to super bantamweight. Potential bantamweight opponents include WBA champion Seiya Tsutsumi and WBO titleholder Christian Medina, while Rodriguez is still looking for bigger opportunities.
While most of the attention will focus on the February schedule, Ohashi’s reference to another event in an “unusual location” suggests that discussions may already be underway about a second major appearance beyond the expected fight in early 2027.
Inoue defeated Junto Nakatani by unanimous decision in May at the Tokyo Dome, retaining his undisputed championship in a fight that attracted enormous attention across Japan. The victory improved his professional record to 31-0 and further strengthened his position as one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighters.
Ohashi’s latest comments represent the clearest indication yet that Inoue’s early 2027 schedule is already in the works, with plans moving beyond a single marquee event. Regardless of whether the February fight ultimately involves Rodriguez or another opponent, the promoter has made it clear that preparations are already underway for the next phase of Inoue’s career.
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Last updated: 23/06/2026 at 1:15
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