Ben Whittaker Responds to Benavidez, Morrell Callouts

British contender says rivals “will have to wait” as he builds toward bigger fights

Ben Whittaker says he can “outshine them all” as interest grows from David Benavidez and David Morrell. The light heavyweight addressed both names while explaining his current approach to building his career.

Whittaker has been open about why some of his earlier fights went the distance, pointing to his own decisions inside the ring rather than any lack of ability.

“If you look at the whole division, no one really does it; no one can move like me, so it’s unique. Why take it away?” Whittaker said. “I look back at my career, even Leon Willings, I was messing around with him to the point where he went the distance. Ezra Arenyeka went the whole way because I was messing around.”

That approach has changed since his stoppage wins began to stack up.

“If the opportunity is there to clean them out, then do it before they can do it to you,” Whittaker said. “That’s what I’ve got the mindset to do now. But as soon as I knock someone out like that, people say, ‘You’re not dancing anymore.’ You can’t really please everybody.”

“He must need the money, that’s all I’ll say,” he said of Morrell. “He’s never mentioned me before, the fight fell through, he’s frustrated, and I’ve taken the headline. He’ll have to wait his turn.”

“It shows I’m not far off if they’re calling me out. Benavidez has called me out; others have, too. Boxers know. That’s why they’re calling me out.”

Whittaker is hyper-aware of his own buzz. He’s basically telling Morrell, “I’m the headline, you’re the undercard.” By presenting their interest as a desperate grab for money or relevance, he’s positioning himself as the bigger star despite having significantly less pro experience. He gets to keep the future king aura without actually risking his record against the elite sharks yet.

“Even Benavidez said I’m a bit green, which is fair enough,” Whittaker said. “I’ve not got all the experience yet. You’d rather get me now than later. The more rounds I do, the more I travel, I’m only going to get more dangerous.”

By agreeing with Benavidez that he’s green, Whittaker effectively takes the power away from the insult. It’s hard to bully someone who just nods and says, “You’re right, but I’m still more interesting than you.”

Ultimately, Ben is treating boxing like a business where the belt is the second prize, and the headline is the first. He knows Morrell and Benavidez are the better fighters on paper today, so he’s fighting them in star power.

On Braian Suarez, his immediate opponent, the message stayed direct.

“He’s got 20 knockouts out of 21 wins, so on paper he’s dangerous,” Whittaker said. “But I believe in every department I’m the better fighter. I’m not in competition with nobody,” he added. “If I do what I do, I’ll outshine them all anyway.”

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