Have we got Ben Whittaker all wrong? British boxing fandom has long had a confused relationship with showmen, at times adoring the likes of “Prince” Naseem Hamed and Tyson Fury, and at others demanding greater humility from those who boast and gloat. So, in 2025, where does Whittaker fit in?
The “Surgeon” has sliced his way into a peculiar spot over the last 12 months. It was almost exactly a year ago that the Olympic silver medalist, now unbeaten as a professional, tumbled out of the ring in a fight in which he was struggling. With defeat appearing a distinct possibility, Whittaker disappeared over the top rope, was too injured to continue, and his truncated fight with Liam Cameron was ruled a draw.
