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Ben Whittaker shocked the boxing world in October when he announced a new multi-year promotional agreement with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing. Whittaker was the top star for Ben Shalom's BOXXER, which signed the 2020 Olympic silver medalist before his professional debut in 2022. When Whittaker became a free agent following Sky Sports' decision not to renew BOXXER's lucrative television deal in June, the light heavyweight prospect decided his career would prosper better elsewhere.

"For me, never a bad word about him," Whittaker said of Shalom to Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show." "At the end of the day, he's come into the game young, he's done well. You have to think — boxing, it's a tough game. It's a dog-eat-dog game. For me, sometimes he was too nice, he was too honest, and that [honesty] stabbed him in the back. He did all he could, but sometimes when you've got someone at my level — he just couldn't take me to the next level, and that's where Eddie Hearn can."

"[Matchroom have] been there and done it before," Whittaker added. "They've taken people to the heights. They know how to route a fighter well. They know how to get him the right fights at the right time. They've got good connections. And if I don't like to speak, Eddie and Frank [Smith] can speak well, so for me it was a great move at the right time of my career. What BOXXER did for me at the time was great, but I feel like the move was needed, and it's a great move for me."

Whittaker told Uncrowned there was interest in his signature from a variety of promoters on both sides of the pond, with the light heavyweight prospect ultimately choosing Matchroom to guide him through the next part of his career. His journey with Matchroom begins on Saturday in Birmingham, England, where Whittaker will fight for his first major title — the WBC silver light heavyweight championship — against Benjamin Gavazi. 

The fight with Gavazi is planned to be the first of four for Whittaker in the next 14 months. Whittaker has suffered from injuries and issues outside of the ring, which have stalled his activity. The British contender now hopes to stay busy and start building momentum, with a U.S. debut looking increasingly likely early next year.

Whittaker rose to stardom in 2024, largely due to his showboating antics, which went viral on social media. It all came crashing down in October of that same year, though, when he shared the ring with Liam Cameron and the pair fought to a controversial technical draw. Whittaker toppled over the ropes and out of the ring in Round 5 and was unable to continue. Up until that point, many felt Cameron was getting the better of the contest.

Whittaker's vast following turned from fans to critics almost immediately, with derisory nicknames and accusations of quitting spreading all over social media. A fighter who had benefited greatly from going viral found out just how quickly it could all fall apart.

"I learned a lot, really — more about life," Whittaker said. "The way I blew up on the internet was real quick, and the way it [came] crashing down [was] real quick as well. So for me it was, don't really get lost in it. Live in the now, work hard and focus on the small people around you. And that's what I've been doing — trying to work hard. I've got a new coach, Andy Lee, and everything's going great at the moment.

"It's one of those things, I suppose, when you're doing well, people always want to see someone fall to their knees. Sadly, that's the way of the world. That's the way of life. But for me, it was very humbling, and I needed it at that moment, because like I said, I came up so quickly. Everything was happening that's never happened before.

"I've literally come from a house where my mom worked two jobs, my dad worked two jobs," Whittaker continued. "I had everything at my feet. That little setback made me hungry again. It made me realize that the sport is real and if you don't switch on or be focused, it can go [downhill very quickly]. For me, I needed it, and I'd rather have it then than later on in my career."

Whittaker teamed up with new trainer Andy Lee following the first Cameron fight. Ireland's Lee, the former WBO middleweight champion, also trains Hamzah Sheeraz, Joseph Parker and Paddy Donovan. Whittaker had previously trained with SugarHill Steward, the nephew of the late, great Emanuel Steward, who coached Lee for much of his career. It was a natural fit for Whittaker as he was already familiar with the elder Steward's Kronk school of boxing.

Lee and Whittaker worked together for the first time for the Cameron rematch this past April, where Whittaker impressed with a second-round stoppage win. 

"When I got to Andy, he said, 'I love it. Do not change it because that's what makes you special,'" Whittaker said of his flashy style. "I don't know if you can name any, but I don't know any light heavyweights [who are] 6-foot-3 that can move like me. That's very unique in itself. He said, 'Don't lose that at all.'

"But what we've been drilling is the basics, day in, day out. The basics can take you around the world, and then when I add my little bit of flair, that's what the fans like to see. Of course you need to take it fight by fight because it'll work against some people, it won't work against [others]. So it's just down to me to know when to use it and when not to."

Whittaker's style, likened to the iconic "Prince" Naseem Hamed, isn't as appreciated in Britain as it is stateside. UK fans tend to prefer humble and restrained characters, so much of Whittaker's fan base arises from the U.S., despite having never boxed there. However, whether people support Whittaker or not, they still end up tuning in to his fights, which has allowed him — with just 10 bouts to his name — to already be one of the top stars in British boxing.

"I'm not far at all [from headlining stadium shows]," Whittaker said. "Skill-wise, I'm definitely there, but of course I need to get experience under my belt. I'm in a great position where [Anthony Joshua] is coming to a position in his career where he won't have many fights left, same with Tyson Fury. You've got Conor Benn starting to do it, and there's no one else really there that can fill the gap, I don't think so. If I do things right, keep winning and performing, I can be that next person."