Ben Whittaker, with a record of 7-0 and five KOs, expressed his frustration over how fighters secure matches nowadays. According to a recent interview with Sky Sports, he stated, "Watching boxing, I thought you worked your way through the ranks... In today’s day and age, you walk through doors, talk and you get a fight." He plans to use the fight with Arenyeka to set an example that traditional paths in boxing still matter.
Ezra Arenyeka, having a solid record of 12-0 with ten KOs, made headlines by gate-crashing a press conference to openly challenge Whittaker. Arenyeka views this as not just a match but also as fighting for his personal and familial pride. However, Whittaker remains unimpressed by such tactics. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the sport's conventional meritocratic nature: "We do things properly. You go through the ranks and there’s levels for a reason."
Whittaker is noted for both his commitment in the ring and his understanding of boxing's public dynamics. Despite acknowledging the necessity of engaging media and fans through flashy appearances, he said that his true focus remains on rigorous training and self-improvement.