Ben Whittaker emphatically answered his doubters by securing a second-round stoppage victory over Liam Cameron in their rematch. Headlining the event at Birmingham`s Resorts World Arena, Whittaker displayed immense confidence with a flamboyant ring entrance.
This self-assurance continued into the first round, where Whittaker utilized nimble footwork and a sharp jab to target Cameron`s face, causing early damage to his nose.
Cameron pressed forward, but a momentary lapse in his defense allowed Whittaker to capitalize. Whittaker landed a powerful right hand that visibly staggered Cameron, sending him reeling into the corner where he absorbed a series of unanswered blows.
While some punches were blocked, enough significant damage was inflicted to prompt referee Howard Foster to halt the fight at 1 minute 53 seconds of the second round of the scheduled 10-rounder. Whittaker`s emotions surged as he then confronted Cameron`s trainer, Grant Smith, in the opposite corner.
This post-fight reaction became a point of discussion among the Sky commentary team, with new trainer Andy Lee seen shielding his fighter from further criticism. This victory emphatically demonstrates Whittaker`s potential and puts his career back on a positive trajectory after the controversial outcome of their first encounter in Riyadh.
Liam Cameron`s record now stands at 23 wins, 7 losses, 1 draw (10 KOs), marking the first time he has been stopped in his professional career. Whittaker, now 9 wins, 0 losses, 1 draw (6 KOs), was joined by promoter Ben Shalom, who expressed his belief that major opportunities are once again within reach for his leading boxer.
In other bouts, Sam Eggington extended his impressive career with a technical decision win over Lee Cutler in a messy fight where both fighters were cut. The judges` scores were 87-85 twice and 90-83 in favor of Eggington.
Frazer Clarke delivered a swift performance, defeating Ebenezer Tetteh within a single round. This victory against the Ghanaian opponent serves to revitalize Clarke`s career six months after his defeat to Fabio Wardley, suggesting he is ready to pursue title contention again.
Tyler Denny also returned to the ring, securing a 97-92 points victory over Elvis Ahorgah in a middleweight contest. Denny scored a knockdown, which proved crucial to his win.
Earlier in the evening, Elliot Whale maintained his undefeated record with a 79-74 points win against Lucas Ballingall. Troy Coleman recovered from a difficult start to defeat Bradley Goldsmith in the seventh round, and Mark Jeffers needed only two rounds to overcome Ricardo Lara in the opening fight of the event.
