Ben Whittaker Enters WBC Light-Heavyweight World Rankings As Next Fight Rumoured

After just eight professional contests, Team GB’s amateur sensation Ben Whittaker has caught the eye of boxing fans around the globe with his unique, provocative style. With his superstardom well and truly on the rise, so is Whittaker’s ranking, and it has now been confirmed that the undefeated Brit has entered the WBC light-heavyweight world rankings.

Whittaker was left heartbroken after losing out to legendary Cuban amateur Arlen Lopez in the final of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics – refusing to wear his silver medal out of devastation at not picking up the gold.

In July 2022, Whittaker make his professional debut and has won all eight of his fights since whilst simultaneously going viral for his defensive skills, over-the-top showboating and intriguing character. At the weekend, he picked up his first belt as a professional, outpointing Ezra Arenyeka at Selhurt Part to win the IBF international light-heavyweight title, but it is with the WBC where Whittaker has been officially ranked.

In the recently announced WBC ratings, ‘The Surgeon’ sits at #22, two places behind former British champion and WBA world title challenger Craig Richards, whilst it remains to be seen whether Whittaker’s belt will see him ranked in the top 15 with the IBF, although previously holder of the belt Bilel Latreche did not receive a ranking when he defeated Deneb Diaz for the strap in October 2022.

Shortly before Whittaker’s win at the weekend, former British and EBU European light-heavyweight Dan Azeez stumbled to a draw against Croatia’s Hrvoje Sep and as a result there have been calls for Whittaker to step up his opposition and face the Londoner in his next contest, representing a potential stepping-stone before a shot of his own at the Lonsdale belt.

On the supersportupdate coverage of the bill, former WBO cruiserweight world champion Johnny Nelson believed that Azeez could be next in the firing line for Whittaker, after taking the positives out of the fact that the Brummie couldn’t get Arenyeka out of there on Saturday night

“Ben, in his first 10-rounder, if he wants to go on as he should go on to bigger and better things, he needs fights like that. And to develop him as a potential champion, as an heir apparent, you can’t have it all your own way. Even Ben was frustrated thinking I want to get rid of him.

“Unfortunately, I think that [Azeez] is the way. You look at Dan Azeez, look at what he’s achieved and he’s a great scalp if he becomes a scalp for Ben and it’s business.

“So that’s what I can see happening within the next 12 months and it’s a fight I don’t want to see because my two favourite fighters on the scene would be right there in the ring [but] I could see that happening down the line.”

With the 34-year-old Azeez currently ranked at #7 with the WBC, a victory for Whittaker would see the undefeated Olympian surge up the rankings and position himself amongst the supposed world title contenders.