Ben Whittaker hailed by boxing fans as ‘the best entertainment since Prince Naseem’ as he splits opinion during showboat win over Khalid Graidia… but critics fume that his 360 spin is ’embarrassing’
- The 26-year-old divided opinion with his latest dominant win at Wembley
- Ben Whittaker starred in his victory over Khalid Graidia
- Referee Sean McAvoy gave Whittaker a formal warning during the encounter
Ben Whittaker’s weekend victory over Khalid Graidia has divided opinion among boxing fans, with some praising his showboat style for providing entertainment, while others were unimpressed.
The 26-year-old looked completely at ease as he dominated the light-heavyweight encounter at Wembley, securing a fifth-round victory.
The former Olympic silver medalist enjoyed it as he produced a mix of highlights – most notably a 360-degree turn that ended with him being told off.
Other standout moments saw Whittaker dancing, wobbling on his feet and jumping around the ring on one leg while waving to the crowd.
Referee Sean McAvoy was furious as he tried to end the display of confidence that began after Whittaker dropped Graidia in the second round, but the Englishman described his style as ‘just my art’.
Ben Whittaker has divided opinion among boxing fans after showing a show of confidence against Khalid Graidia on Saturday
Whittaker cruised to victory with a fifth-round stoppage over his opponent at Wembley
Whittaker received a formal warning from referee Sean McAvoy for showboating during the fight
Reactions at Wembley were divided between supporters who enjoyed the brutal boxing event. Some tried to discourage the display with boos from the stands, while some cheered and social media was flooded with even more contrasting views.
One comment on X read: ‘Love him or hate him. He’s definitely talented. Why do we have to choose? Let’s just get behind him.’
Another post drew a comparison between Whittaker’s showmanship and former world featherweight champion Prince Naseem, who entertained in a similar fashion, saying: ‘I love the confidence and showmanship but don’t overdo it or they will struggle to to have meaningful battles in the future that will be the best entertainment since Naz was around.’
However, others criticized his winning style with one commenting: ‘Sorry if people like this behaviour, they’re not boxing fans… he’s bringing shame to the sport.’
Another X user said: ‘Whittaker clearly has skills but needs to show respect for his opponent both in the ring and out. I love showboating as much as the next man, but it has to be done with class.”
Some supporters have compared Whittaker’s style to former featherweight superstar Prince Naseem (pictured)
The fight was stopped for a moment in the fight, which led to Whittaker being pulled into his corner by the referee and given a formal warning.
Explaining his performance after the fight, he told Sky Sports: ‘Do you know what it is? I can dance, I can swing, but I destroyed it in no time.
“I was going through the motions, looked at my dad and he was a little annoyed, so I said, ‘Okay, let me show you what I can do’ and I got the job done.”
‘Don’t consider showing disrespectful, it’s just my art. People may compare me to Prince Naseem, but I’m Ben Whittaker.”