Ben Whittaker signs with Matchroom

[NazNaci1]

everyone slags off TBA but he's the most active pro on the circuit out some respect on his name.

[keithmoonhangover]

everyone slags off TBA but he's the most active pro on the circuit out some respect on his name.

Respect? He's always scheduled to fight multiple guys and yet never steps in the ring. The fella is the king of the pullout.

EDIT: That's what she said.

[SeanBrennan]

everyone slags off TBA but he's the most active pro on the circuit out some respect on his name.

Respect? He's always scheduled to fight multiple guys and yet never steps in the ring. The fella is the king of the pullout.

EDIT: That's what she said.

I see what you did there….

[keithmoonhangover]

everyone slags off TBA but he's the most active pro on the circuit out some respect on his name.

Respect? He's always scheduled to fight multiple guys and yet never steps in the ring. The fella is the king of the pullout.

EDIT: That's what she said.

I see what you did there….

That's what she said.

[SeanBrennan]

Respect? He's always scheduled to fight multiple guys and yet never steps in the ring. The fella is the king of the pullout.

EDIT: That's what she said.

I see what you did there….

That's what she said.

This thread could run and run

[Ruthless-RKO]

What’s Next For Ben Whittaker?

Ben Whittaker (10-0-1, 7 KOs) has a two-fight roadmap that will see him headline in the UK before making his US debut.

Having signed a long-term deal with Eddie Hearn in October 2025, the light-heavyweight has only boxed once under the promotion. That was a first-round stoppage win against Benjamin Gavazi last November. Whittaker will first return to the ring on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on the undercard of Callum Smith vs. David Morrell.

While Matchroom has confirmed the date, the opponent remains “TBA.” Immediately following the Liverpool bout, Whittaker will head to the United States for his first professional fight on American soil. Whittaker’s US debut is now targeted for June 2026. He is expected to serve as the co-main event for a Jaron Ennis fight, likely in Las Vegas or Atlantic City. Following his Matchroom deal, Whittaker made it clear that his plan is to become a world champion.

Whittaker Reacts

“I’m grateful to Eddie and Frank Smith. All my family have known this is where I always wanted to be. It had to be the right time, but we’re here now, I know all the team here – they are very professional – and I honestly can’t wait to get started. “I remember being shown around [at Matchroom HQ] during Covid at Fight Camp and Eddie said then he wanted to make me a star and make me a champion. It didn’t quite pan out then but we’re here now, with a better haircut than I had back then, and as a better version of me.

“The plan now remains as what it was back then. Of course, my popularity has grown and my profile has got bigger. But I think with Eddie [Hearn] and Matchroom Boxing, I will become even more of a household name and one day become a World Champion. “I’m ranked well with both the IBF and WBC, so that was another reason why I wanted to come on board with Matchroom because I believe they will help navigate my path towards winning those belts at the right time. And that’s what I’m here for,” Whittaker said

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ben Whittaker vs. Zak Chelli ruled out... for now

Promoter Eddie Hearn believes light-heavyweight contender Ben Whittaker will be able to use his US debut next month to springboard him to bigger things.

Whittaker has had just one fight since leaving Boxxer and joining Matchroom, defeating Braian Suarez in a round in Liverpool last month.

On June 27, on the Xander Zayas-Jaron Ennis bill in Brooklyn, New York, at the Barclays Center, Whittaker faces the 27-2 (20 KOs) Richard Rivera, who fights out of Hartford, Connecticut.

“I just think it’ll be a great experience,” said Hearn.

“I think one thing that people aren’t necessarily absorbing is how good Ben Whittaker is and how much he’s improving. Because I think people just think he’s rolling through people. But the Suarez win was a really good win, especially in that fashion. And this fight against Rivera is not an easy fight. He [Rivera]’s a decent, decent fighter. And I think that whole week, that whole build-up, the ring walk, the swag, everything, it’s going to grab everyone's attention. You've got Emiliano Vargas and Ben Whittaker on that card. It’s really like two of the hottest young stars coming through the respective markets. I think it’s going to be a big moment for him. And after this, he’ll be back around October time, headlining in Birmingham.”

Hearn, of course, is thinking beyond one fight at a time for the Olympic silver medallist.

And after Zak Chelli’s underdog stoppage win over David Morrell last week, some have linked Chelli to a future fight with Whittaker.

Asked whether that was a fight that interested Hearn, the promoter said: “It wasn’t.”

“But I guess you have to put Zak in the mix for all those fights. He's done brilliantly well.

“And he’s going to want big fights. I think it’ll be interesting to deal with Zak and the old man, who’s a great character as well. And they’ll probably want about 10 million quid.

“But he’s earned his right to be in a big fight next.”

Morrell was rattled in the ninth and stopped in the 10th by the unfancied Englishman. The Cuban had been due to face Callum Smith in April but Smith was injured in the build-up and Morrell was paired with Chelli a few weeks later.

“How many times have we seen a fighter who was in a big fight, that fighter pulls out, and then you have a couple of weeks off training, your head’s gone,” Hearn explained.

“Then you get told you’re fighting in two weeks. But he was winning every round until he got slightly buzzed in the ninth, and then pole-axed in the 10th. I couldn't believe it. I mean, fair play to Zak Chelli.”

[margaret thatcher]

'hottest young stars'

lmao this guy is nearly 30 and still a prospect, when will they stop with this baby food nonsense

he is older than guys like haney, shakur, bam who have all been in p4p lists already for years. and he is just months apart from david benavidez.

[dookus]

'hottest young stars'

lmao this guy is nearly 30 and still a prospect, when will they stop with this baby food nonsense

he is older than guys like haney, shakur, bam who have all been in p4p lists already for years. and he is just months apart from david benavidez.

Delayed Man Strength Syndrome claims another victim

[jameswilson]

'hottest young stars'

lmao this guy is nearly 30 and still a prospect, when will they stop with this baby food nonsense

he is older than guys like haney, shakur, bam who have all been in p4p lists already for years. and he is just months apart from david benavidez.

Maybe have him vs Hughie Fury.

Battle of the 35 year old babbies.

Maybe have Danny Williams’s zimmer frame clad private school kids as special guests.

[margaret thatcher]

[steve689]

Actions speak louder than words and Eddie’s matchmaking tells the real story.

[Spud MK2]

Whittaker will get found out.
Eddie willl find it hard if its Bradus Kraus

[SeanBrennan]

Whittaker will get found out.
Eddie willl find it hard if its Bradus Kraus

I don’t think they’ll put him anywhere near Kraus

[golden_labrador]

I want to see the Whittaker-Willie Hutch fight before he's found out though

[SeanBrennan]

I want to see the Whittaker-Willie Hutch fight before he's found out though

I think Willie beats him.

I’m so immature that made me laugh. I’m bloody 42 at the end of the month…

[golden_labrador]

I want to see the Whittaker-Willie Hutch fight before he's found out though

I think Willie beats him.

I’m so immature that made me laugh. I’m bloody 42 at the end of the month…

[jonp]

Whittaker will get found out.
Eddie willl find it hard if its Bradus Kraus

Ah spud you on the Gradus train now I see lol

[Spud MK2]

Whittaker will get found out.
Eddie willl find it hard if its Bradus Kraus

Ah spud you on the Gradus train now I see lol

Hello jon

[johnmanchester]

Whittaker will get found out.
Eddie willl find it hard if its Bradus Kraus

I don’t think they’ll put him anywhere near Kraus

I wouldn't be surprised to see Gradus Kraus signing with Matchroom the same as Whittaker did

[SeanBrennan]

Whittaker will get found out.
Eddie willl find it hard if its Bradus Kraus

I don’t think they’ll put him anywhere near Kraus

I wouldn't be surprised to see Gradus Kraus signing with Matchroom the same as Whittaker did

Possibly he’s marketable too

[Ruthless-RKO]

‘I’m just not impressed’: Richard Rivera believes Ben Whittaker uses jokes to hide fear

Richard Rivera says he’s “not impressed” with what he’s seen of Ben Whittaker

Richard Rivera will get a chance to knock off heavily-hyped light heavyweight Ben Whittaker this Saturday night, as the two will meet in an undercard bout on the Zayas vs Boots card in Brooklyn.

The fight is the first on American soil for the 29-year-old Whittaker (11-0-1, 8 KO), who just fought on April 18 and scored a first round knockout win over Braian Suarez.

Whittaker, an Olympic silver medalist, has become just as well-known for his joke-y sort of personality and his aggressive displays of “charisma” as his fighting, and the veteran Rivera (27-2, 20 KO) sees that as a “mask” that hides Whittaker’s “real fear.”

“I’m not too thrown off by his antics. I don’t think that those moves, those antics, come from bravery,” Rivera says in a video posted to social media.

“I think it’s a mask to hide his real fear. I’m just not impressed. A guy that disguises his flaws with these jokes. When it comes down to fight night, we’re gonna see how far them antics take him. The world is going to say, ‘Oh my gosh, I couldn’t believe it! The biggest upset!’ When I knew all along.”

RelatedXander Zayas vs Boots Ennis prediction: Who will win and how
It’s probably worth mentioning that yes, Rivera does an entire “Popeye the Sailor Man” get-up, so a question of “antics” may reasonably go both ways here.

That doesn’t mean he’s not tough, though, nor does a resume that looks thin on paper. The 35-year-old Rivera has been around for years but really hasn’t had the chance to break out as a serious player at 175 or cruiserweight, which can happen if you are actually tough and just don’t have the right career backing.

His biggest fight came in 2022 when he faced Badou Jack, and Rivera did give Jack a real fight that night, losing a 10-round split decision. He has long held the belief that he’s simply been avoided by the biggest names around him, including Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.

“Everybody knows Bivol is scared, everybody knows Beterbiev is scared,” he says. “They love calling me for sparring but they wouldn’t call me for a real fight. When it comes down to it, I think David Benavidez is the only worthy adversary.”

Rivera’s other loss was on the road in the Dominican Republic in 2024, against Luis Antonio Tejeda. Rivera lost an eight-round majority decision in a fight that was scored by three Dominican judges, which is not an accusation but, like, you know; boxing is the way it is. He’s won two in a row coming into Saturday’s fight with Whittaker.

[handsofstone]

Whittaker came across well on the overlap but hells he talking about Rivera being a former world title challenger

[Taansend]

Whittaker came across well on the overlap but hells he talking about Rivera being a former world title challenger

Maybe the Badou Jack fight was for one of those random alphabet belts?