Ben Whittaker delivered a dominant first-round knockout over Braian Suarez on April 18 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, but days later, the reaction from a former opponent added further weight to the performance.
Liam Cameron publicly backed Whittaker to reach the very top, stating he believes the rising star can go on to become a world champion.
The light-heavyweight contest, broadcast live on DAZN, saw Whittaker take control from the opening bell. His trademark showboating was also on display. He dug in with body shots before coming upstairs with a clean right hand that sent Suarez crashing to the canvas.
ONE AND DONE!!!
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 18, 2026
BEN WHITTAKER GETS THE JOB DONE IN THE FIRST ROUND 🤯 @DAZNBoxing #WhittakerSuarez pic.twitter.com/n5ckIUAVWH
Suarez was unable to recover, and the referee waved off the bout at 2:24 of the first round. The performance left an impression on many, including Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn, who called ‘The Surgeon’ ‘Superstar’ several times.
Former rival Cameron backs Whittaker’s future
Whittaker’s performance also received praise from his former opponent, Cameron, whom he faced in April last year and made easy work of, securing a second-round knockout victory.
Speaking to Talksport, Cameron, offering a perspective shaped by firsthand experience, backs Whittaker to become champion.
“I’m so happy for Ben. I want him to go all the way. I want him to be a world champion. I hope he does. It will look better for me. I support him. I gave him a little message because I’ve shared a good experience with him, I just said, ‘Well done, amazing.”
Fighting in his second outing under Matchroom Boxing, the Brit took full advantage of a late opportunity to headline, delivering a performance that reinforced his reputation as one of the most exciting prospects in the sport.
Hearn confirms US debut for Whittaker
Following Whittaker’s victory in the post-fight, his promoter, Hearn, rained praise and has also outlined the next step in Whittaker’s rise, confirming plans for his American debut.
“Next up, he’s going to be where he should be,” Hearn said. “He’s going to be where all the superstars go and like to walk in front of the bright lights. New York, he’s coming. Jaron Ennis against Xander Zayas, Barclays Center, Brooklyn. You’re going to see the true star of British boxing, Ben Whittaker, make his American debut on June 27th, number one.”
SUPERSTAR. SUPERSTAR. SUPERSTAR. #WhittakerSuarez | @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/WudMgnyRxB
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 18, 2026
‘The Surgeon’ holds a professional record of 11 victories, of which eight came via knockouts and 1 draw. Though he has consistently delivered spectacular performances inside the ring. Many analysts believe it’s time to raise his opponent’s level.
Now that Hearn has already laid out a plan for Whittaker’s American debut, it will be interesting to see who will be his opponent and whether he will be able to continue this momentum of delivering flashing knockouts.
