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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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This is Five Live Boxing.
Ben Whittaker is unbeaten. He's an Olympic silver medalist, and he is without doubt one of the biggest stars in global boxing. Not domestic boxing, global boxing. And this weekend, he's in action in Liverpool. I'm Steve Bunce, and this is Five Live Boxing. Now, I like box parks. They're all over the country. We've done the one in Croydon. We've done the one in Wembley.
We've done the one now in Liverpool. The weigh-in's just finished. The boxers have left. All of the boxers have left. A few people milling around. David De Monti's over there. And I'm sitting with Frank Smith of Matchroom.
Frank, first of all, I've got to say I'm really delighted that when Callum Smith pulled out or was injured that the show was kept in bed because there's an awful lot of local fighters on the bill and an awful lot of local talent and Ben at the top. So I'm happy you kept it.
I was going to sing The Show Must Go On, but I thought better of it, to be honest.
Oh, no, please sing.
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Chapter 2: Who is Ben Whittaker and why is he a rising star in boxing?
You've got all these people saying, oh, he should fight David Morel, he should fight this guy. It's about building him because we believe he can be a global superstar of the sport for the next five, ten years. So we've got to do it at the right times.
And that doesn't include, to become a global superstar, you can't have one of those learning defeats. I'm sorry, I agree with you. The Morel fight was being called for. Didn't Morel call for the fight?
Yeah, Muriel was calling for the fight, but look, on 10 days notice, again, our job is to deliver for Ben Whittaker, sort of forget the outside noise, and build him in a manner that when he's ready to make those steps... He's an elite fighter. You don't win an Olympic medal... And beat the guys he did on the way to the fight.
Exactly.
Without being there. But I think... For us, it's always been about when we signed him, the key thing was momentum and activity. And this year, he'll have four fights. He'll end up having five fights, I think, in 14 months by the end of this. That'd be perfect. That's the plan. And the momentum is going to be key for that as he continues to step up the ranks.
Because in some ways, even though I think he's 28, if I'm not mistaken, I could check my notes, but I think he's 28. He's not an old 28. You know what I mean by that, Frank?
I was an old 28.
No, you're an old 16, son. If you don't mind me saying so, you haven't changed since then. I still think about you as 17. I've got my driving licence. I'm going to get a car next week. That's not a slight on your business acumen. That's because you look so young. What's the secret, Frank?
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Chapter 3: What happened during the weigh-in before the fight?
Facials, lots of facials. Cold plunges. And a missus who makes me, I have a skincare routine now. I'm sure the Five Live followers are huge fans of skincare routines.
I'm intrigued. Now listen, if I've got men talking about skincare routines on a boxing pod.
Where's it all gone wrong?
brand new bingo card where's it all gone wrong I would argue no listen so we've been it's a it's a busy year and I'm really I like the idea that you know it's going to be built and it might take another year before you get to really difficult fights but it is the light heavyweight division it's an old question what a division Frank it is full of big big established names
Chapter 4: How did Frank Smith ensure the fight card remained intact?
100%. And our job is to get him to that point and get him there in the best way possible that allows him, once he steps into those big fights, he's ready and he's prepared. I think him with Andy Lee as well is a great pairing. I think you're going to continue to see improvements with them from that side as well. So, yeah, it's exciting times.
And he can, as I say, he can become, with his personality, with the way he fights, the entertainment he delivers, he can become not just a superstar in the UK, but a global star.
Will he fight in America this year?
Yeah, that's the plan. That's the plan next. He's not looking past Saturday night. Of course not. He knows he's got a test on Saturday night, but that's the plan for us, and hopefully we'll get that announced soon.
And with regard, you mentioned Andy Lee there. I like that sort of camp atmosphere that Andy's got. I like also the idea that it needs to be a sign on the wall at the Fitzroy Lodge, there's no boys bigger than the club. And I believe that Andy's created that a little bit. So he might have Joseph Parker there, former world champion, still top contender.
He might have Hamza Shiraz, world title fight coming up. Pally Donovan, world title fights in the past. He might have that, but...
no boy is bigger than the club i like that mentality i think also being around people it's a bit like aj being around ucic now yeah you know having those people around you to continue to drive you forward because sometimes they go the other way where fighters become stars and it's like no one else is allowed in the camp yeah no one else is allowed around me locked door i've seen that a few times yeah i don't like that and i just i actually think it's beneficial this way around you know and that's what like you say ben's got there and i think it's going to continue to help develop him you know both inside and outside the ring
And just one second, Frank, because I did actually catch up and have a chat with Ben once he left the stage, just before I came in here. Here's Ben talking to me.
I fought here before, a couple of times.
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Chapter 5: What are the expectations for Ben Whittaker's fight against Braian Suarez?
So to be a part of that, to be a part of that bunch and hopefully be the top of that tree, that's what we want. It's a great part to be a lot heavier weight.
Well, we know that the domestic front works. Look at the two clashes with Liam Cameron, all the stories from the first one and then shutting everybody up in the second one. So we know the domestic route works as well.
Yeah, it does. You can go international, like I'm doing this weekend, or you can go domestic. But for me, it's just be who's in front of me now and then the rest can just wait in line.
And how about normal life? How's life doing? Because you were 22, 23 forever. Yeah. Now you're what, 28 years of age? How's life doing?
Yeah, you get out of bed, your knees hurt a little bit now. You got to have the right mattress and stuff. I can assure you that's in your mind. But yeah, life's good, man. Everything's in my favor, really. I'm allowed to live the job that I do. I get paid doing the job that I do. And it's amazing, really. I'm around friends and family. So it's a position to be in.
I love it. And with regards to leaning forward, I don't want to look beyond Suarez, but I've got to look beyond Suarez because whether you like it or not, we all have to look beyond where we are. When I look at that landscape going forward, if you had an ideal shopping list, three fighters, where would you take? How would you do it?
In an ideal one, 18 months, Ben Whittaker, gaze into your crystal ball.
Yeah.
Well, beat this kid, of course. That's number one.
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Chapter 6: What role does Andy Lee play in Ben Whittaker's training?
Do you have to bring it up again? No, no, no. I'm just using that as my start point for the chaos. Since February 20th, it's been absolutely ridiculous, this boxing business. It's a great time for boxing. So I spoke to Eddie and Eddie was talking about AJ fighting in July. So I'm trying to work out if that was the last interview I did with Eddie or the one before.
But he was talking about AJ maybe fighting in July and also Katie Taylor fighting on her own at Croke Park in September. Do you know anything more about us? Is Ed not in Croke Park today, Friday?
Eddie's there. Eddie's there. He didn't invite me to the meeting at Croke Park because he calls me Mr. Bottom Line and I look at the numbers and he really wants to do Croke Park.
You spoil all the fun.
Yeah, basically. Basically, I'm king of spoiling fun. But that's the plan. September in Croke Park would be ideal for Katie Taylor. It's what we want to make happen. AJ in July. In Croke Park? No, AJ in July, separately.
I'm trying to get two Croke Parks out of you. You're trying to get a story here, aren't you?
Like London buses. We've been asking for Croke Park for years and then they both turn up.
Can you imagine that?
I know. If we went to Croke Park twice in six weeks. I can confirm we won't be doing Croke Park twice.
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Chapter 7: How does Ben Whittaker prepare mentally for his fights?
Is there anything? I mean, is there anything? I'm just looking at your eyes.
What, in boxing or in life in general?
No, in boxing. No, no, no.
I'm retiring. I'm sure there's a lot.
No, no, I just wondered if there was something that big you were about to announce.
There's a lot going on. There's a lot going on. A lot of things happening. A lot of shows announced already. A lot more shows to be announced. What can I think of?
I'm not going to give it away, though, if there is something. I know AJ's going to be announced because we know he's going to fight in July. And that's great news. That's big news because we know it's good for his soul.
Oh, you're talking about Eddie Hearn, Dana White?
No, no, no. Eddie wants 30 mil. If someone can fight 30 mil and whatever Dana wants, then that could be announced.
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