Eddie Hearn has secured what he believes is the biggest signing in British boxing.
Light heavyweight contender Ben Whittaker has left Ben Shalom’s BOXXER and inked a long-term promotional deal with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, the company confirmed Monday afternoon.
Whittaker, a 2020 Olympic silver medalist for Great Britain, became a promotional free agent following Sky Sports’ decision not to renew its four-year £36 million broadcasting deal ($48.5 million) with BOXXER this past June.
Whittaker (9-0-1, 6 KOs) ranked No. 9 with the WBC and No. 11 with the WBA scored the biggest win of his career this past April in a much-anticipated rematch with Liam Cameron.
The first fight between the pair, which took place in October 2024, ended in a technical draw after both men toppled over the ropes and outside the ring during the fifth round. As a result of the fall, Whittaker was unable to continue, and the bout was halted. It was a controversial ending to a fight which many believed that Cameron was getting the better of.
For their rematch, Whittaker teamed up with Andy Lee, who also trains Hamzah Sheeraz and Joseph Parker. The Darlaston fighter impressed in the second meeting, hurting and stopping Cameron in Round 2 in front of his home crowd.
Whittaker is a polarizing figure among the British sports community. His viral showboating antics, likened to “Prince” Nadeem Hamed, have helped make him one of the biggest stars in British boxing.
It’s a signing that’s a long time coming for Hearn’s Matchroom. Matchroom initially agreed a deal with Whittaker in 2022 when he came out of the Olympics, even filming a promotional video to announce the move. The deal, however, collapsed at the 11th hour with Whittaker ultimately choosing BOXXER’s more lucrative offer. Hearn has since prophesied about signing Whittaker on numerous occasions and now he’s got his man.
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“Ben Whittaker and Matchroom Boxing? It sounds very good its got a nice ring to it, Whittaker said.
“Of course, I came very close to signing before. But Im here now, and thats the main thing. I think things happen for a reason. Im at the right stage in my career now to pick the right platform and go for the right fights. So this move just made sense.”
He is phenomenal,” Hearn said of Whittaker. “This is the greatest signing to make in Boxing today. Ben Whittaker is a generational talent, and we are ready to take his career to a whole new level.”
This long-term deal will propel Ben to global superstardom, solidifying his reputation as a household name and steering him towards future World Titles. He will be No.1. He has the world at his feet and I am beyond excited to finally be promoting this great, young man.