Ben Whittaker - Sky Latest Project

[Alba]

Seen him tonight, looked OK but not convinced from what I seen in this and the previous.
But he's on his fourth fight, but the hype around him seems like its already starting to take off.

[rd350lc]

I thought he didn't look great , was blowing early doors , got caught quite a few times too by a slow , non puncher .

Perhaps he would be more well advised to focus on his boxing skills , rather than the other $hite .

[margaret thatcher]

such a try hard

obviously has some talent, but not much to go on at this point to differentiate between him being an ogogo or a degale

[maley1984]

Hope they make the summers fight next. Ricky tough and game. To much posing in the ring and stupid antics in and out the ring. Can see alot of people wanting him to lose.

[foggyneedham]

He'll get chinned in a bad way the way he has his hands down

[maverick23]

It’s too early to tell how good he is given who he’s fighting.

At this stage of his career, the way to get people excited is by blasting people out. Unfortunately he’s spending too long showboating. If he’s doing that in big fights then a lot of people won’t mind it but doing it at this level is stupid and off putting to most.

Degale did similar early on and he had a tough time getting the fans onside with him.

[leejonesjnr]

I’ve sparred Ben, he’s good.
The showboating rubs people up the wrong way most of the time, I can only think of Hamed who did it and people enjoyed it but I think he had a more cartoony and attractive character in intererviews and post fight etc, that’s little twinkle in the eye that let everyone know that he knew he was being ridiculous too.

[Boxerbeetle]

I don’t mind showboating at a high level, but it’s a bit cringe at the level Whittaker is currently fighting at. Doing his best to make a name for himself though, can’t knock him really.

[Coco]

I’ve sparred Ben, he’s good.
The showboating rubs people up the wrong way most of the time, I can only think of Hamed who did it and people enjoyed it but I think he had a more cartoony and attractive character in intererviews and post fight etc, that’s little twinkle in the eye that let everyone know that he knew he was being ridiculous too.

Hamed got a lot of stick for it, like he didn't have Ali's twinkle in the eye!!

However when you have success at high level you can get away with anything.

Remember I think the first time Hamed was on the TV, he was only 19 and dominating in a European title win.

[leejonesjnr]

I’ve sparred Ben, he’s good.
The showboating rubs people up the wrong way most of the time, I can only think of Hamed who did it and people enjoyed it but I think he had a more cartoony and attractive character in intererviews and post fight etc, that’s little twinkle in the eye that let everyone know that he knew he was being ridiculous too.

Hamed got a lot of stick for it, like he didn't have Ali's twinkle in the eye!!

However when you have success at high level you can get away with anything.

Remember I think the first time Hamed was on the TV, he was only 19 and dominating in a European title win.

Perhaps it’s more about the age of the audience?
I was a wee boy watching Hamed and Chris Eubank, perhaps 40 year olds hated them both and perhaps younger people enjoy watching Whittaker do it?

[Bercli]

He'll get chinned in a bad way the way he has his hands down

I agree. If he does not learn his trade properly instead of piss balling around,he's getting chinned

[Ruthless-RKO]

He'll get chinned in a bad way the way he has his hands down

I agree. If he does not learn his trade properly instead of piss balling around,he's getting chinned

He’d definitely take a serious opponent more seriously surely.

He knows he can afford to box like this..

[tigermoth87]

Utter clown. Showboating against a bum.

Hope he gets chinned.

[TheLeprechaun]

You can't compare this chap to Hamed. Hamed was getting stick but he had the X Factor and you knew he was playing it up in a big way. He was clearly a showman at heart but although he undoubtedly had his detractors, he had some Ali about him in the way he was putting on a show. Whitaker is just doing it in a way that is unlikeable. Hamed had his haters but he also had his fans. I don't see too many Whitaker fans out there. None in fact.

[mickey1975]

You can't compare this chap to Hamed. Hamed was getting stick but he had the X Factor and you knew he was playing it up in a big way. He was clearly a showman at heart but although he undoubtedly had his detractors, he had some Ali about him in the way he was putting on a show. Whitaker is just doing it in a way that is unlikeable. Hamed had his haters but he also had his fans. I don't see too many Whitaker fans out there. None in fact.

Hamed was a household name within ten fights. A real household name. He was doing millions on ITV before winning the world title. Boxing Monthly had him front page before he boxed pro. Brendan took him everywhere telling everyone he was going to be a legend for years before he turned pro. And he could back it up…