Boxing: People like Floyd Mayweather displayed their level upon debut, says Ben Whittaker

Posted at: July 26, 2022

Boxing: Olympic silver medalist Ben Whittaker is looking to Floyd Mayweather for motivation as he prepares for his much anticipated professional debut on Saturday.

He punches for the first time as a professional fighter on July 30 at the Bournemouth International Centre following his excellent performance at the Tokyo Olympic Games last year.

Greg O’Neill, a seasoned fighter who had previously faced Olympic medalist Anthony Ogogo in six rounds, will be his opponent.

Whittaker, however, is adamant, saying, “People like Mayweather, look at their debut, just proved what level they were at, and that’s what I want to accomplish.

“No disrespect to the kid but I’m going to show what level I’m at. I’m a different level. People are talking about me for a reason. I’m just going to show it.”

There has been much discussion about his approach and if he can transform those smooth amateur skills into a lethal professional arsenal.

“I’m looking to come out and just be Ben Whittaker,” he told Sky Sports News. “I’m getting a lot of comparisons of old Roy Jones, Thomas Hearns, but at the end of the day I’m me. I’m Ben Whittaker.

“Everybody knows me as a beautiful boxer so first things first, that’s going to happen but I want to show that I’m spiteful and I can hurt now.

It is SugarHill Steward, who trained Tyson Fury for his recent victories over Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte, who is in charge of assisting that professional shift.

Whittaker has been instructed to “search for the painful shot and set them up” by him.

“I’m excited. I’m excited to show that I can do that now. Everyone knows me as a slick fast boxer but I can punch as well and he’s bringing that out of me,” he said.

Prior to the match on Saturday in Bournemouth, Whittaker and Steward had been in training camp in Miami.

“It was a good experience, out of my comfort zone, I learned a lot. You were a bit like fresh meat. You walk into the gym. Everybody knows you’re an Olympic medallist, they want to try you, you’re a bit tired from the heat and stuff like that,” Whittaker said.

“Taking yourself out of your comfort zone like that is only going to benefit you and make you a stronger-minded person. Each day I learned. I got some new team-mates and it was a good thing.”

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Priyanka Suriyal

I am a sports reporter and broadcaster, because of my skills as a writer. My writing has been praised by many and has helped me to establish a career in this field.