The spotlight was firmly on Olympic silver medal winner Ben Whittaker in London today, as he announced he would fight Sheffield’s Liam Cameron again.
Many were left questioning Whittaker’s ceiling after he and Cameron spilled from the ring in Saudi Arabia last year and Whittaker could not continue fighting.
They will box again on April 20 in Birmingham, with Whittaker aiming to scalp Cameron and put the episode behind him for good.
“This is how I see it. He turned up at his best, I turned up at my worst, and he still really couldn’t do much,” Whittaker said of their first fight.
“There’s no pressure, If I’m honest. I’ve been in situations with a lot more pressure and he said it in his own words, there’s no win, lose or draw. It’s just win. That’s it. Win and move on.
“I had a lot of options [for other fights]. There were a lot of people I could have picked, but it was the right option for me. This is the fight I wanted. This is the fight the fans wanted, and after I win, I move on.”
Does he feel like he has a point to prove to the detractors?
“Not to nobody,” he added. “I like to just prove points to myself. I know how good of a boxer I am, and that will show.
“At the end of the day, April 20th, we can right that wrong. There’s no animosity there. At the end of the day, it’s just another fight. I’ve had rematches in the amateurs, I’ve had trilogies in the amateurs, it’s just another fight. I’d say he’s more emotionally attached to it than I am. Which he should be. It’s given him this new fame, new followers… All I can say is, I truly believe 20th of April is the day it was written.”
Whittaker said he’s been quiet because he’s got his head down and been training hard for the return.
Cameron, meanwhile, said he was pleased to be able to run it back with Whittaker.
“I wish him all the best. It’s nothing personal. I’ve had a lot out of Ben: new career, new hairline, new sponsors, I’m buzzing. Look at me… I’m gonna finish the job. I promise you,” he said.
Cameron felt Whittaker was tiring from round three in their first bout and said, “I don’t think Ben would have got through it on fitness alone.”
Whittaker promised to draw a line under the rivalry for good in Birmingham.
“All shoulda, woulda, coulda,” he said. “April 20 is all that matters.”
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