In a surprising twist this February, Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing stunned the boxing world by signing Conor Benn, one of Britain’s top talents, away from Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom. This summer, White continued his recruitment drive by bringing aboard Johnny Fisher, another prominent Matchroom fighter, alongside Craig Richards and Cheavon Clarke, who also switched allegiances.
Now, amid his mounting rivalry with Hearn, White appears to be targeting yet another Matchroom standout: Ben Whittaker. Whittaker is set to return to the ring this Saturday in Birmingham for an IBF light heavyweight final eliminator against Conor Wallace—a bout that might also function as a proving ground. Speaking on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Whittaker revealed he had heard rumors that Dana White might attend the event.
“I just had a feeling he might be there, but I could be mistaken,” Whittaker said. He went on to mention receiving numerous messages from Zuffa, as has his manager, joking that if White ends up in the nosebleeds, it would be disrespectful—and that they’d make sure to seat him properly.
Since White’s entry into boxing earlier this year, his rivalry with Hearn has intensified into a fierce battle, making a Matchroom event a challenging environment for White. Although White is not expected to attend Saturday’s fight, Whittaker’s comments suggest the American promoter’s interest remains strong.
Whittaker did not disclose how much longer he is contracted with Matchroom but is believed not to become a free agent immediately after the fight. “I’ve received many invitations to Zuffa shows, but I think attending could cause issues, so it looks like they’re coming to me,” he quipped, adding, “When you look this good, they all flirt with you.” He described the scramble for his signature as a pack of hungry wolves, with offers flooding his direct messages.
This development arrives at a noteworthy moment in White and Hearn’s ongoing conflict. With White absent from the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight launch and questions looming over his role, Hearn seems to be gaining ground. However, White may already be setting his sights on the next challenge—adding Whittaker to his roster once the Olympic silver medalist is available would be another significant blow to Matchroom’s British lineup.
Despite the speculation, Whittaker insists he is content with Matchroom’s management of his career so far. “I’m only joking when I say ‘right now’—Eddie, Frank [Smith], and Matty Lawless have all been great,” he commented. “They’ve done a lot for me and kept me busy, even when the Callum Smith vs. David Morrell main event was canceled. They’re doing everything they can, and I’m just doing my part.”
Fan Take: This tug-of-war for top British talent highlights the fierce competition shaking up the boxing landscape, signaling a possible reshaping of promotional power in the sport. For fighting fans, the potential shift of fighters like Whittaker could lead to fresher matchups and intensified rivalries, injecting new energy and excitement into the division.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
