Red-hot light heavyweight prospect Ben Whittaker continued his swanky ascent up the rankings by scoring a dominant 10-round unanimous decision over Ezra Arenyeka at Selhurst Park in London on Saturday. The official scores were 100-89, 99-90, 99-90.
Whittaker (8-0, 6 KOs) completed 10 rounds for the first time in his career. He came close to dropping Arenyeka in the final round when a brutal left hook to the body was followed by a quick three-punch burst, but the Nigerian fighter was saved by the bell.
“I knew he was going to be tough,” said Whittaker during his post-fight interview with Sky Sports. "It's irritating that I didn't knock him out. I hurt him a couple of times. I kept it clean, made him look silly and won easy."
Following a take-it-or-leave-it dance routine, Whittaker was serenaded by live violinists before prancing through some spectacular pyrotechnics. All that was left to do was deliver in the ring and that’s exactly what he did.
'THE SURGEON' ENTERS THEATRE 🪡
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) June 15, 2024
What a ringwalk from Ben Whittaker! 😯#WhittakerArenyeka x #BillamSmithRiakporhe pic.twitter.com/20U0McMTLf
The jab was the weapon of choice for Whittaker in round one. Arenyeka backed off with his hands high and showed little ambition throughout the three minutes. There was showboating from both men, but Whittaker did all the punching and the pattern was set.
Early in the fight, the counter right hand over Arenyeka’s jab looked like a money punch. Compared to his quick-fisted opponent, the Nigerian slugger was operating in slow-motion and Whittaker was far too good for him.
There were signs of life from Arenyeka in the middle rounds. Whittaker would tease him with upper body movement while stepping around and the underdog managed to slot home a couple of decent right hands. However, in the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t enough.
The sixth round was Whittaker’s best of the fight to that point. While against the ropes, he naturally drifted into the southpaw stance and scored with three left uppercuts in a row. It was dazzling stuff. At the bell, Whittaker mockingly walked his opponent back to his corner and Arenyeka butted him in response.
At the end of round six, Ezra Arenyeka headbutts Ben Whittaker! 😯#WhittakerArenyeka x #BillamSmithRiakporhe pic.twitter.com/tOM5wPNHnr
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) June 15, 2024
The bad blood continued into the seventh when Arenyeka was deducted a point for an intentional elbow. At this point, the underdog was scoring with more fouls than legal punches and succumbing to his obvious frustrations. He was being made to flounder constantly.
By the late rounds, the action had become so one-sided and repetitive that the crowd was pretty silent. If Whittaker was guilty of anything, it was a reluctance to let his hands go in multi-punch bursts, which was the only way he was going to find the finish.
An Olympic silver medallist at the Tokyo 2020 games, Whittaker’s superstar potential is clear to see. He’s quick, powerful, super-talented and his defensive finesse is eye-popping. What we need to see is if the Englishman can absorb a direct hit.
While his flashy, showboating style will always leave him open to criticism from the purists, all Whittaker needs to do is keep winning. He’s exciting, charismatic and popular, which are essential assets for boxing’s biggest attractions.
Chris Billam-Smith vs. Richard Riakporhe 2 undercard
- Chris Billam-Smith vs. Richard Riakporhe 2, WBO cruiserweight title
- Jack Massey def. Isaac Chamberlain via UD 12 (116-112, 115-113, 115-113), Commonwealth and European cruiserweight championships
- Ben Whittaker def. Ezra Arenyeka via UD 10 (100-90, 99-90, 99-90); Light Heavyweights
- Dan Azeez draw Hrvoje Sep via PTS 8 (76-76); Light Heavyweights
- Francesca Hennessy def. Dorota Norek via PTS 8 (77-75); Bantamweights
- Deevorn Miller def. Edwin Mosquera via TKO 1 (2:33); Cruiserweights
- Mitchells Frearson def. Marco Simmonds via PTS 4 (40-36); Middleweights