Rising light-heavyweight star Ben Whittaker continues to make an impression.
On Saturday, he went 10 rounds for the primary time, when he outscored Ezra Arenyeka at Selhurst Park.
It was an eventful bout. Not solely did Whittaker make his entrance to a dwell orchestra, however he needed to endure each a headbutt and an elbow from Arenyeka, in addition to peppering the competition together with his now trademark showboating.
Johnny Nelson, the previous world champion and now an professional pundit for Sky Sports activities, believes Whittaker obtained a beneficial studying battle.
“Ben is great at winding his opponents up as well as his fans up. So he couldn’t complain about it. He couldn’t expect the referee to do anything about it,” Nelson instructed Sky Sports activities Information.
“I actually think the 10 rounds for Ben was the best thing that could have happened to him. He was in there with a live opponent that was trying to put him under pressure.”
The previous WBO cruiserweight champion added: “I and many people thought he’d shut this kid out in about two rounds.”
However he famous: “Remember his opponent had 12 unbeaten fights. He’d stopped 10. So, no matter, if you get in there with anybody, it means you can do something.
“Ben, in his first 10-rounder, if he needs to go on as he ought to go on to larger and higher issues, he wants fights like that. And to develop him as a possible champion, as an inheritor obvious, you possibly can’t have all of it your individual method. Even Ben was annoyed considering I wish to eliminate him.
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Ezra Arenyeka lashed out with a headbutt after Ben Whittaker taunted him by strolling him again to his nook after the sixth spherical
“Part of the job is learning. Matchmaking is everything. So I think you know what, great shout, good win.
“He ticked an enormous field,” Nelson concluded. “And the doorway, oh my goodness, ridiculous. Simply jogged my memory of the Naz [‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed] days. So I cherished every little thing about that.”
He believes Whittaker ought to look to battle former British champion Dan Azeez within the close to time period.
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Ben Whittaker and Ezra Arenyeka exchanged showboats through the first spherical of their battle on the Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe undercard
“Unfortunately I think that’s the way. You look at Dan Azeez, look at what he’s achieved and he’s a great scalp if he becomes a scalp for Ben and it’s business,” he mentioned.
“So that’s what I can see happening within the next 12 months and it’s a fight I don’t want to see because my two favourite fighters on the scene would be right there in the ring [but] I could see that happening down the line.”
