‘The Surgeon’ certainly seems to be learning from the best.
Ben Whittaker has been climbing the ranks since joining the Matchroom Boxing roster, quickly marking himself out as one of the sport’s most exciting prospects.
The 28-year-old is as entertaining outside the ring as he is dangerous inside it, combining a flamboyant personality with explosive punching power.
But that showmanship has not come without scrutiny.
Whittaker has previously faced criticism for his tendency to entertain rather than close the show early.
This weekend, however, he delivered a more clinical reminder of his finishing ability.
The British star stopped Braian Nahuel Suarez inside the opening round of their clash, leaving little doubt over the outcome.
After the fight, Whittaker revealed that advice from a recently retired legend and future Hall of Famer had played a role in refining his approach.
He explained: “When I was in Dubai for an event, I saw Terence Crawford and he said, ‘Trust me, bro, you’re a great fighter. You’ve got all the skill, but you play with your food too much’.
“I sat back and thought, that’s true, actually.
“I do play with my food too much, and ever since then, I’ve been knocking and cleaning up.
“But that’s just me as well.
“I do like to mess around, but I can do both.
“I can hop on one foot. I can spin around. I can look into the crowd.
“But the shot’s there to take you out.”
Now, Ben Whittaker is set to make his debut stateside on the undercard of Jaron Ennis vs Xander Zayas in Brooklyn, New York.
Want to get the latest boxing news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
