Ben Whittaker was fighting Liam Cameron for the International light heavyweight championship and entered the bout with an unblemished 8-0 record before recording a draw
Ben Whittaker was left in a heap on the canvas in bizarre circumstances after he fell over the ropes and was unable to continue against Liam Cameron.
Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Whittaker – famous for his showboating – was tied up with Sheffield foe Cameron at the end of the fifth. Cameron pushed Whittaker towards the ropes as they clinched after exchanging blows.
It ended with both men going over the top rope and landing hard on the other side of the canvas. Cameron was able to get up despite being in pain and went back to his corner for the minute break before the sixth.
But Whittaker wasn’t able to get up and the start of the sixth was called with the West Midlands boxer still on the floor. Whittaker’s team and medics attended to him for minutes after while Cameron danced in the ring thinking he had won.
But referee Victor Loughlin judged it to be an ‘accidental injury’ so it went to the scorecards. Whittaker had already left the arena floor in a wheelchair while Cameron stood waiting thinking his hand would be raised.
The three judges then delivered a split draw with the cards of 58-57 to Whittaker, 58-57 to Cameron and a 58-58. This is the first blemish on Whittaker’s record after eight previous wins while Cameron was denied a huge upset victory in his 30th fight.
Whittaker was poor in the fight by his lofty standards and billing. There was none of the usual showboating from the West Midlands man which he has become known for.
He was in control in the first couple of rounds but Cameron, coming off defeat by Lyndon Arhtur last time out, started to find some success in the third.
Cameron, who once served a drugs ban for cocaine, then hurt Whittaker in the fourth with a right and that seemed to really knock Whittaker out of his stride.
The Sheffield fighter continued to grow in confidence in the fifth and was having success again before the bizarre ending. Because the bell went for the start of the sixth round that was scored on the cards despite not a punch being thrown.
