Eddie Hearn says he once advised Ben Whittaker not to sign with Matchroom before finally landing the Olympic silver medalist three years later in what he now calls a “dream move.”
Whittaker (10-0, 7 KOs), one of Britain’s brightest light-heavyweight talents, makes his Matchroom debut this Saturday at Birmingham’s BP Pulse Arena against Benjamin Gavazi (19-1, 13 KOs) live on DAZN, after a high-profile switch from Ben Shalom’s Boxxer.
Hearn: “You have to just grab it”
Hearn revealed that back in 2022, Matchroom thought Whittaker was already theirs. They even filmed an announcement promo at HQ before Boxxer blew them out of the water financially.
“We agreed everything, he’s throwing money in the air and everything for this video and I’m thinking, ‘we’ve got one here,’” Hearn told The Ring.
“But then Shalom came in with this deal… After hearing what they offered him I just said: ‘Mate, you have to just grab it.’”
Whittaker went on to have 10 fights with Boxxer, including a rematch win over Liam Cameron in April, but grew concerned that Boxxer’s new BBC deal might impact his activity. When his contract expired, Matchroom pounced.
“When we got the email from the lawyers earlier this year to say he’s officially out it felt like a dream move waiting to happen,” Hearn said. “Everybody wanted to sign him but as a team we got it done.”
Matchroom’s Whittaker Plan: Activity, Not Drift
One of Hearn’s main criticisms of Whittaker’s previous run was the lack of structure.
“I don’t think he had a plan or a real schedule… ‘You’re fighting in six weeks… speak to you in five months.’
“Whereas this time we know he’s fighting in November, then February time, maybe in America, then back in the summer to headline. There is a plan and a schedule.”
Hearn says if Whittaker looks “sensational” on Saturday, the intent is to keep him busy and visible through 2025.
How Fast to a World Title Shot?
Hearn sees three tiers at 175 and thinks Whittaker could be in the title mix within 3–5 fights, depending on who’s holding the belts.
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If the title picture is more open (e.g., names like Michael Eifert vs. Conor Wallace for a vacant IBF belt), Hearn says Matchroom would take that fight “next.”
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But against the true elite Dmitry Bivol, Artur Beterbiev, David Benavidez Hearn wants a slightly longer runway: “That’s more like five fights. Those guys are the goal…”
For now, the message from Matchroom is clear: Ben Whittaker isn’t just a prospect anymore he’s a project. And Hearn believes, with the right schedule and platform, he could become Britain’s next crossover star in the Anthony Joshua mold.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
