Callum Smith, a former super middleweight champion, has voiced his views on rising boxing star Ben Whittaker's in-ring behavior. In a recent interview Smith critiqued Whittaker's showmanship and urged greater respect towards his opponents. This advice comes amid Whittaker's attempts to emulate iconic boxer Prince Naseem Hamed’s flashy style.
Ben Whittaker, an Olympic silver medalist with a current record of 7-0 including 5 knockouts, recently knocked out Stiven Dredhaj in the fourth round—a fight that drew millions of interactions on social media platforms. Despite his successes in the ring and character-driven public profile which distinguishes him amongst peers, his antics have raised concerns. For instance, last month at London's O2 Arena against Leon Willings, an in-ring confrontation with Willings' trainer and a verbal warning from referee Sean McAvoy highlighted this contentious behavior.
During the interview, Callum Smith expressed his opinions about Whittaker's conduct. "Ben Whittaker's antics aren't my cup of tea. He’s trying to be like Naseem Hamed, but Naz was doing it at Madison Square Garden in world title fights, not against journeymen," said Smith. He emphasized that while he sees Whittaker as a promising fighter capable of reaching the top levels of boxing, the young star should focus more on solidifying his fundamental skills and treating each bout with professional seriousness.
Smith further commented on how Whittaker often engages with opponents who are not on equal footing professionally. "At the moment, he’s only doing it against journeymen who have finished their day's work and then gone to be opponents for him," he stated, calling this approach disrespectful.
Smith conceded that Whittaker's unique personality does contribute significantly to his growing recognition and admitted to the effectiveness of his performances despite reservations about showboating tactics:
"I think he [Whittaker] should just go about his business at the moment, but talent-wise, he is a very good fighter and will go to the highest level. He is well known now compared to other Olympians because of his character... Although he is showboating, he is also putting in good performances."
