Whittaker A Generational Talent Ready For Elite

Promoter Eddie Hearn believes his new signee Ben Whittaker is a “generational talent” who will be ready to fight the elite light heavyweights within five fights. That’s a lot of pressure Ben is under with Hearn labeling him as a “generational” type fighter.

Whittaker’s headliner fight on Saturday against light heavyweight Benjamin Gavazi will prove whether Hearn is right about the 2020 Olympic silver medalist. There are already many fans who believe that he made a mistake in inking him to a long-term contract with Matchroom.

“This is a guy that has got it all. We’ve seen his social media figures. But I like him because I think he’s a world-class fighter,” said Eddie Hearn to Rachel Rose Boxing’s YouTube channel, talking about Ben Whittaker ahead of his fight this Saturday against Benjamin Gavazi.

The 28-year-old Whittaker (9-0-1, 6 KOs) faces Gavazi (19-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round fight at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England.

Whittaker looked good in his last fight, knocking out Liam Cameron in the second round in their rematch on April 20, 2025. However, in their first fight, Whittaker had problems with the pressure that Cameron put on him, and bizarrely fell out of the ring in the sixth round. He was injured in the fall. Fans saw it as a signal that Ben had mentally quit.

“I believe he can be a world champion. This is the first part of his journey with us. Mainly because it’s the British public, they don’t like flashness,” said Hearn about the criticism Whittaker gets from fans for his showboating.

Whittaker’s age makes it important that Hearn not take the slow approach with him, as he’s already approaching 30. He can’t be brought along slowly like other fighters who are starting out.

“He was so good with it. It wasn’t like he was doing it and getting hit. I’m looking at it like, ‘Look at this flash b****.’ Then on the other hand, I’m thinking, ‘We should have had him.’ And then I’m seeing his social media following going up, and up and up,” said Hearn about the surge in Whittaker’s popularity.

“Five years before he turned pro, I knew how good he was. Everyone was talking about him in Team GB. He went to the Olympics. He won a Silver,” said Hearn.