Highly-rated light-heavyweight contender Ben Whittaker has gone viral on multiple occasions since making his professional debut in 2022, but he could be set for a serious jump up in opposition after Chris Eubank Jr. welcomed the proposal of a clash with the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist. Now, Whittaker has responded to whispers of a meeting between he and the super-middleweight contender.
Whilst Eubank Jr. is yet to win a world title, he is recognised as one of biggest pay-per-view draws in the United Kingdom. However, despite his celebrity trumping that of more-or-less any Brit outside of the heavyweight division, it is Ben Whittaker who has been stealing the show on social media, with an number of his performances being shared and praised online because of his unique and entertaining style.
Speaking with the Toe2Toe podcast, Chris Eubank Jr., who recently signed to work with the same promoter as Whittaker, opened the door for a potential meeting between he and the comparably inexperienced superstar, declaring that the contest and possibly rivalry is one that ‘England needs’.
“I didn’t know that was a conversation. Two entertaining, brash [fighters] who love to put it on the line and show off in that ring, of course, that’s a sexy fight.
“I’ve watched him. It’s pretty insane how popular he is in terms of social media. He’s getting a lot of attention, I don’t know how many fights he’s had but he hasn’t fought anybody.
“That’s really what England needs. It’s very rare to have that in the UK. There’s not many fighters that get that type of attention.”
In response, Whittaker refused to turn down the opportunity to fight Eubank Jr. at a catchweight and encouraged Saudi kingpin Turki Al-Alshikh to set the event up, in an interview with Sky Sports.
“Of course, never say never, he classed it as a ‘sexy fight’ I would say that it is more ‘Beauty and the Beast’.
“It’s a good fantasy fight, he has got a great name and who knows?
“It would be a one-off fight and it would have to be a catchweight of some sort, hopefully [around] super-middle. If he is game, then I am game. Tell Turki [Al-Alshikh] to set it up, I am alright with that.”
Meanwhile, former WBO super-featherweight champion Barry Jones was also on the panel and whilst recognising that the weight difference would be a major stumbling block, admitted that in the modern world of boxing, ‘fantasy fights are no longer fantasy fights’.
“I can’t see it happening. I just think that, with where the careers are at right now and what he [Whittaker] is looking for.
“The weight is the biggest factor, Chris Eubank Jr. is too small, but the money in this sport is a bigger driver than anything else, so he [Whittaker] could go in a sweatsuit for six months or Chris could be eating some pies and putting on some weight!
“You never ever know. Fantasy fights are not fantasy fights anymore, we are seeing them happen.”
Eubank Jr. and Whittaker are poised to fight on the same card in less than two months’ time, with Eubank returning against Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta and Whittaker facing Liam Cameron on the Beterbiev-Bivol undercard on October 12th.
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