Ben Whittaker appeared to goad the nook of Liam Cameron after storming past his rival with a press release stoppage victory on Sunday. Was his celebration justified or did he cross the road?
Whittaker answered his critics in type as he powered previous Cameron within the second spherical on what had loomed as a defining night time in his profession.
The Olympic silver medallist had been accused by his opponent of ‘quitting’ throughout October’s first assembly, which was dominated a cut up draw when an injured Whittaker was left unable to proceed after the 2 fighters bizarrely tumbled excessive rope.
It prompted a pointy and targeted efficiency second time spherical from Whittaker, who was greeted by a mix of cheers and boos throughout his ring stroll in Birmingham earlier than ending his rivalry with Cameron as soon as and for all.
Upon stopping his opponent, an animated Whittaker raced across the ring in celebration earlier than sticking his head by the ropes throughout an alternate with Cameron’s coach Grant Smith.
“You heard everyone boo me, they’re portraying me as a foul man,” Whittaker instructed Sky Sports activities in his post-fight interview when requested if he had spat at Smith. “However on the finish of the day I work very onerous, my feelings got here out.
“I used to be roaring like a Lion, if somewhat little bit of dribble got here out, a little bit of dribble got here out.”
Coach Andy Lee additionally defended Whittaker’s celebrations, having teamed up with the 27-year-old forward of a defining night time in his profession within the wake of his first struggle in opposition to Cameron.
“No person can underestimate what this man has gone by the final nevertheless many months,” mentioned Lee. “Mentally, the barrage of insults, the actual fact he is nonetheless standing right here within the ring tonight, not many individuals may put up with what he is gone by.
“He is nonetheless right here and carried out like that.
“I do know for a reality I am not going to spend time with any person who shouldn’t be worthy of my time.
“This man is the very best individual you may ever spend time with. He’s an emotional man, he did lose management however it’s solely pure with what he is been by the final six or seven months.”
Coldwell: Whittaker let himself down
Dave Coldwell was crucial of Whittaker’s response post-fight and instructed he allowed feelings to get the very best of him.
“That is classless, I do not care if the group boo you or not, their man simply obtained beat and stopped, that is classless. There is not any excuse for that,” mentioned Coldwell on Sky Sports activities.
“The efficiency was excellent, sharp from the primary minute, he was on full alert. The end was sensible. He spoilt it on the finish.
“What has Grant Smith or any of Cameron’s workforce obtained to do with that? There is not any excuse for that. I get it, I perceive when everyone is at you. However you present your class.
“He is obtained the very best man on the earth taking care of him and displaying him behave as a result of Andy Lee is an unbelievable human being. I perceive about human emotion however I believe he let himself down.”
British and Commonwealth middleweight champion Callum Simpson, who has brazenly welcomed a possible struggle with Whittaker, additionally questioned Whittaker’s behaviour.
“I’ve by no means been booed in my life, particularly in your house city, it says one thing about your self,” Simpson mentioned on Sky Sports activities.
“He is proven his true self now, Grant Smith does not deserve that, it is bang out of order.
“You understand how a lot of a great man Grant Smith is. He does not deserve that.”
Nelson: It was human emotion
Johnny Nelson insisted Whittaker might be forgiven for his response, having been confronted with accusations that he bowed out too simply throughout October’s conflict.
“It was emotion popping out. Frustration. Due to what he is gone by, he is been vilified, chastised,” mentioned Nelson.
“It is him saying ‘I am not washed up, every part you’ve got mentioned about me is full garbage’. It is human emotion.”
“Sadly once more after the win he will get criticised. He is obtained the job carried out. Take a look at it repeatedly, you watch his face. It is damage him, it was human emotion.”
Whittaker had been unfazed by the blended ambiance on Sunday night time as he delivered a vastly-improved efficiency, rocking Cameron with a crashing proper hand by launching a vicious assault that may spell the top for his opponent.
“Ben Whittaker did every part proper and obtained the job carried out,” Nelson continued. “That ought to have occurred within the first place. It is higher off it is occurring now than 19 fights down the road.
“We needed to see that. He was sad with a silver medal within the Olympics, we needed to see that and he wanted it for himself.
“He has been below immense stress, we all know he is a expertise however the stress is there. He does not do himself any favours as a result of his mouth will get in the way in which at instances, however we love him or detest him. It is why he sells out arenas.”
Watch Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn on Saturday reside on Sky Sports activities Field Workplace.
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