- Former world champion offered advice to Whittaker after fight with Liam Cameron
- Whittaker’s light heavyweight fight ended in a controversial split decision draw
- Skeptical boxing fans on social media questioned whether Whittaker was really injured
Former world featherweight champion Billy Dib believes Ben Whittaker “can’t afford” to take risks with his “flashy, flamboyant” style amid the controversial ending to his fight against Liam Cameron on Saturday.
Whittaker came in as the heavy favorite and started brightly in Saudi Arabia, but began to fade as Cameron found his range and timing.
The fight came to a bizarre conclusion in the fifth round when both fighters fell over the top rope, and security rushed to make sure neither man fell to the floor.
Although Cameron seemed unfazed by the incident and jumped to his feet, Whittaker was left worse off.
The Olympic silver medalist required attention to his right foot and was unable to continue.
Ben Whittaker, left, struggled to find his rhythm against Liam Cameron on Saturday night.
The fight came to an end in the fifth round after both fighters fell over the top rope.
Whittaker suffered an injury to his right foot and could not continue in Saudi Arabia
The 27-year-old was taken back to his dressing room in a wheelchair after the premature end to the action.
A result could still be obtained from the judges’ scorecards because the pair had fought enough rounds.
One gave it 58-57 to Whittaker, another gave it 58-57 to Cameron while the third gave it a 58-58 draw, meaning the fight ended in a split decision technical draw.
It was the first of Whittaker’s nine professional fights in which he appeared to be in some conflict given his lack of mid-fight showboating, a trait that had become something of a trademark for the Brit in his previous fights.
Dib, a two-division world champion, believes it’s something Whittaker may have to curb as the level of competition increases.
“When I first turned pro, my style was flashy and extravagant, but I quickly learned that as the competition gets tougher, you can’t afford to take those risks.” Dib wrote in X.
“I think Ben Whittaker could learn some valuable lessons from today’s draw.”
Although Dib offered a measured approach, boxing fans on social media were not as kind, with many claiming he was seeking an early exit.
The 27-year-old was taken back to his dressing room in a wheelchair after the fight.
Former world champion Billy Dib gave some advice to Whittaker after
Dib felt that Whittaker needs to curb the ostentation of his style to avoid taking unnecessary risks.
One fan wrote on X: “Ben Whittaker has taken the easy way out and no one can tell me otherwise.”
Another posted: “If Ben Whittaker is the future of boxing then the asteroid can’t come soon enough.”
A third said: “Yes Ben Whittaker is a joker man, he knew what he was doing.”
Even former British IBF bantamweight world champion Stuart Hall stormed into the West Midlander: “Ben Whitaker (sic) exposed the BOTTLE WORK and wanted out.”
Some boxing fans even went so far as to brand the West Midlander as Ben ‘Quittaker’.
It was the first of Whittaker’s professional fights in which he looked susceptible against an opponent.
Fans on social media criticized Whittaker, with some believing he was looking for a way out.
Others were equally scathing and don’t have high hopes for Whittaker as a potential champion.
One fan posted: “Ben Quittaker obviously could have continued.”
Another added: “Ben Quittaker fought someone who has experience and wasn’t capable, got hurt and looked for a way out.”
Whittaker himself has yet to offer his verdict on the fight as the world waits to learn the severity of his foot injury that prevented him from walking back to his dressing room.
Cameron was left furious in the end, telling DAZN that his opponent “didn’t want any more.”
“He was very tired, he gave me his last 30 seconds,” Cameron said. ‘He had nothing left. The boy was destroyed in the second round. But look, I definitely beat him.’