Criticism, then cynicism, followed by boos. But in the end, there was silence at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena as Ben Whittaker pummeled Liam Cameron. The rematch followed their hugely controversial fight at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh last October. And given Whittaker and his antics, criticism was inevitable. Only this time, not for how he fought, but for what he supposedly did after securing a thumping victory.

Several reports suggest that Ben Whittaker, unable to contain himself after stopping Liam Cameron in the second round, lunged at Cameron’s corner and spat. For the record, Whittaker offered an explanation, denying the allegation. While it may take some time for a clear picture to emerge, one thing is undeniable: with his stellar performance, the Olympic silver medalist has silenced many of the detractors who questioned whether the hype surrounding him was merely a bubble. In the aftermath, Cameron’s team provided their perspective on the incident and extended a measure of congratulations as well.

Ben Whittaker: I gave in to the heat of the moment

Addressing the spitting accusations, Whittaker told Sky Sports, “But I work very hard, and my emotions came out – and I was roaring like a lion. If a little bit of dribble came out, a bit of dribble came out.”

Later, his new trainer, Andy Lee, also came to his defense. “The barrage of insults he’s had to put up since the first fight with Cameron… not many people could put up with what he’s gone through. His emotions are bound to get carried away. He is an emotional guy, and he did lose control, but this is a champion,” said the esteemed trainer, a second cousin of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

Six months ago, on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, the ten-round bout between Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron ended in a technical draw after both fighters toppled through the ropes. Whittaker subsequently pulled out, citing purported injuries.

Let’s bring this discussion to an end

As a result, he faced heavy backlash. Many believed that Cameron, who had only returned to boxing in 2023 after a five-year hiatus, had exposed Whittaker. The Darlaston-born light heavyweight suddenly found himself under immense pressure to clear his name and redeem his reputation. Determined to set the record straight, Whittaker delivered an emphatic victory over Cameron yesterday in front of a home crowd in the West Midlands. In the lead-up to the Boxxer event, both camps had clashed over the number of rounds, fueling the tension further.

When the referee stopped the fight, a fired-up Whittaker couldn’t contain himself. He rushed toward Cameron’s corner and taunted Grant Smith, who nearly slapped him in response. David Coldwell, a respected trainer and Sky Sports’ analyst, labeled Whittaker’s actions ‘classless,’ calling them unprofessional and disrespectful.

Whittaker later defended himself, claiming that if any spit flew out, it was unintentional. Just the result of roaring in the heat of the moment. Meanwhile, Grant Smith, it seems, confirmed to reporters afterward that Whittaker had not spat at him or his team. Lee Eaton, Head of Boxing at Queensberry, later praised Whittaker for his performance.

In a gesture that seemingly ended the feud, Whittaker extended respect to Cameron after the fight. “Fair play to Liam, we hugged in the ring, and he said, ‘No one’s ever hit me like that,” he said.

Who do you think Ben Whittaker should fight next? And where does Liam Cameron go from here?