Boxing
Ben Whittaker dreams of world fame, but he knows he can’t please everyone
Published
5 months agoon
Ben Whittaker is excited about the future.
It’s strange to call your Saturday fight with Benjamin Gavazi (19-1, 13 KO) in Birmingham [10. p.m. GMT, DAZN] as the beginning of His second coming, but it has that impression.
You can see the anticipation in his eyes as he addresses a petite group of writers before returning to the ring, discussing all things Matchroom, his move to Ireland and the emotions of the last 12 months.
Whittaker (9-0-1, 6 KO) is skillful, skillful, articulate and controversial.
The 28-year-old’s performances in the ring may confuse some people, but he attracts attention. He accepted that he couldn’t please everyone, especially in boxing, so why try?
No wonder Eddie Hearn, Olympic silver medalist and natural showman, pushed to sign Whittaker after the Tokyo Games but gave up when he settled on Boxxer and Ben Shalom’s Sky Sports. Speedy forward to October this year, Boxxer and Sky Sports went their separate ways, with Hearn finally finding his man and Whittaker signing with Matchroom.
Now the promos are over – their parody of the Jerry Maguire skit with Whittaker shouting “show me the money!” Hearn’s phone call went viral – it’s time to win fights.
“Activity,” Whittaker replies when asked about the selling price of his modern promoter. “I may have 3-4 fights next year, whereas my last promoter only had four fights he could do, so approximately when can I get there? It’s probably two fights for me, one headliner and one undercard. The position I’m in right now is not what I need.”
“I’m not a diva, I don’t mind being on the undercard or anywhere else as long as I can keep myself lively.”
Hearn has already hinted that he will take Whittaker to the United States early next year. His confidence and flashy style are probably better suited to American audiences. Whittaker says he loves fighting at home and insists British fans are “the best in the world”, but it’s not just the UK and US that are on the radar.
He thinks globally.
“I have a lot of stick here [UK]but I love it,” says Whittaker. “I have a good fan base in the US… Oddly enough, some of my biggest fans are Japan and Brazil. Eddie can take me to these weird places you would never get to.
It’s no wonder Whittaker is keen to move on after a tumultuous year.
He was heavily ridiculed following his draw with Liam Cameron in October 2024, when he was injured after falling off the ropes, leaving him unable to continue. He won the rematch by second-round knockout in April, but has not fought since. It was an emotional moment. Whittaker was criticized for the way he celebrated, but coach Andy Lee was quick to defend his player.
“Nobody can underestimate what this man has been through since his first fight,” Lee said.
“Mentally, the barrage of insults, the fact that he’s still standing there, not many could handle what he’s been through. He’s a champion. I’m not going to spend time with someone who isn’t worth it. This guy is the best person you’ll ever spend time with.”
It was enthusiastic support for an often misunderstood player from one of the best and most respected coaches in the sport. Saturday will be their second fight together and both are hopeful that their relationship will bring titles.
Whittaker is not antique, he is 28 years antique, but he knows he must take action soon if he is to fight for the lithe heavyweight titles, where there are gigantic opportunities waiting for him both at home and abroad.
Second coming or not, Whittaker watches games whether you like it or not.
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Boxing
David Benavidez has no room for error in the fight against Ramirez
Published
2 hours agoon
April 27, 2026
Benavidez enters Saturday’s fight with Gilberto Ramirez in a situation where even a tiny defeat may have a higher price than one defeat in history. Greater opportunities lie ahead, but those plans depend on beating Ramirez cleanly and leaving Las Vegas intact.
Benavidez will meet Ramirez on May 2 in Las Vegas in a fight for Ramirez’s WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles for $79.99. On paper, this is a bold move as Benavidez makes the jump from lightweight heavyweight to challenge an established titleholder who has already established himself in the division.
The pressure on Benavidez goes far beyond physical titles. For months, his name has been linked to huge opportunities at 175 pounds, most notably a clash with Dmitry Bivol. A loss to Ramirez would immediately derail those plans, forcing Benavidez into a rebuilding phase and delaying any significant career moves for the foreseeable future.
Winning in an ugly or narrow way can still invite skepticism. Benavidez is known for his constant pressure and high efficiency, and recently he has had a record of immaculate shots and has been forced to persevere in hard moments. Facing naturally larger opponents makes these defensive mistakes much more steep in the long run.
Ramirez may lack elite strength, but he has the experience and durability of a seasoned cruiserweight. He also enters the ring with much less weight on his shoulders than the challenger. All the pressure to perform rests entirely on Benavidez.
Therefore, the risk for Benavidez is much higher than for the man holding the belts. A victory will ensure that his path to mass fights remains clear, while any other result could immediately ruin his momentum and force him to spend time fighting Ramirez again. Getting stuck twice in the Ramirez fight would be a nightmare for Benavidez.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Boxing
Jarrell Miller Targets Long-Awaited Heavyweight Fight After Pero Victory: ‘Let’s Do It’
Published
4 hours agoon
April 27, 2026
Jarrell Miller defeated Lenier Pero this weekend at Las Vega to fulfill his world champion dreams, although he may first want to end a long-running feud beyond the title picture
The controversial American heavyweight fighter defeated Olympian Pero over the distancelanding an incredible number of punches en route to a clear unanimous decision victory.
Although winning the final elimination puts him close to a chance to fight champion Oleksandr Usyk, after the fight Miller saw the appeal of an all-American fight with Deontay Wilder.
I’m talking to Fighting Hub TV“Substantial Baby” called for the fight to continue.
“I think if the fans call him out enough, they’ll want to make this fight happen. Everyone says Deontay will beat me, knock me out – there’s only one way to find out. He’s been knocked out multiple times, I haven’t. Let’s make this fight happen. We’re two of the top American heavyweights. We can both get people tuned in. Me and my brilliant speech, him and his weird, dramatic speeches and entrances… I think it would be fun.”
With Miller unlikely to be on Usyk’s radar as the Ukrainian only has a narrow number of fights remaining before he retires, Wilder presents an opportunity to settle a dispute – including claims related to weighty sparring and personal grievances – that has been brewing for years.
Wilder revitalized his career earlier this year with a hard-fought victory over Derek Chisora and will likely miss the opportunity to fight Anthony Joshua as the Briton focuses on a warm-up fight for his fight with Tyson Fury.
Boxing
Ryan Garcia signals doubts about Benn’s fight, calling Rolly to reserve
Published
6 hours agoon
April 26, 2026
In recent comments, Garcia said that Benn is the fight he wants. At the same time, he openly announced the emergency plan.
“If Conor doesn’t want it, we’ll go back to it with Rolly,” Ryan Garcia told Ring Magazine, referring to Rolando Romero.
That alone was revealing. Players who believe that an agreement is imminent tend to limit their message. When alternative opponents are publicly mentioned, it often means that there are still obstacles related to money, timing, broadcasters or promotional control.
Then another wrinkle appeared when Óscar De La Hoya publicly supported a completely different fight.
“I’m most interested in a rematch with Devin Haney,” De La Hoya said, adding that it could be massive enough to accommodate Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Now Garcia’s public trail includes three separate names: Benn, Romero and Devin Haney. Rarely does a finalized fight sound like this.
Benn’s matchup still makes sense on paper. Benn has become one of the more recognizable names in the UK and has now added to his profile after signing with Zuffa Boxing. Garcia remains one of boxing’s biggest social media attractions and continues to attract attention regardless of the results.
Put these names together and you have clear commercial value.
But picking a fight and liking the fight are two different things. Garcia has ties to the Golden Boy. Benn’s modern setting creates fresh business layers. Place also matters. An event in the US, an event in the UK, or support from Saudi Arabia would change the economy.
This helps explain why backup options are already provided.
A rematch with Haney also remains valuable as unfinished business continues to sell. Their first meeting generated headlines, controversy and debate. Whether fans loved the event or not, they remember it. In state-of-the-art boxing, remembered fights are often easier to sell than fresh ones.
Meanwhile, Romero proposes the simplest, practical way. It is known, accessible and connected to Garcia’s recent history.
Ryan may really prefer Benn, but preference doesn’t always dictate the schedule. This is usually what promoters, networks and time do.
David Benavidez has no room for error in the fight against Ramirez
Jarrell Miller Targets Long-Awaited Heavyweight Fight After Pero Victory: ‘Let’s Do It’
Tommy Fury CONFUSED by STRANGE Anthony Joshua REACTION
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