Ben Whittaker has been tipped as a future world champion after winning light-heavyweight silver at the Tokyo Olympics and remaining unbeaten as a professional.
Earlier this year he avenged a contentious 2024 draw with Liam Cameron and is set to face Benjamin Gavazi in Birmingham on Saturday.
Promoter Eddie Hearn says the show is exciting but his priority is Whittaker becoming a world champion. “The progress and the route has got to be perfect,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
The path to a world title at light-heavyweight is demanding. Dmitry Bivol, who unified belts after beating Artur Beterbiev, holds the WBA, WBO and IBF straps, while WBC champion David Benavidez recently stopped Anthony Yarde. Callum Smith’s win over Joshua Buatsi for the WBO interim title has also put him in line for a shot.
Hearn outlined the tiers Whittaker must navigate: domestic opponents such as Craig Richards, Dan Azeez and Willie Hutchinson; the next level featuring Callum Smith, Anthony Yarde, Buatsi or Zach Parker; and then elite fighters like Bivol, Beterbiev and Benavidez. “He needs another four or five fights [before a world title]. Can he compete against those guys now? Yeah. Can he beat them? That’s a tough challenge,” Hearn said.
That progression suggests a world-title opportunity is more likely in 2027 than next year. Hearn added they must avoid rushing Whittaker into a shot against the division’s top names while he lacks experience. “When you have someone like Ben Whittaker we don’t want to throw in an opportunity to challenge Benavidez or Bivol ill-equipped, ill-equipped in terms of experience. We’ve got to be ready,” he said. “It’s a brilliant division but one I think he can win a world title in.”