Saturday night promises an electrifying evening for boxing fans, with the world watching in anticipation as the sport crowns its second undisputed champion of the year. At Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will clash for the light heavyweight undisputed championship. Definitely, that will be the bout on everyone’s mind. However, before the headline takes center stage, the Riyadh Season show promises to give that special edge-of-the-seat experience for the audience and scores of fans spread across the globe.

Among these, there is one fight generating a quiet buzz that is expected to intensify as fight night approaches. Though it is not a title fight, the contest between Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron is drawing considerable intrigue. Both fighters bring compelling narratives to the ring, and their ten-round light heavyweight battle could prove to be a defining moment, particularly for Cameron, who is looking forward to reclaiming his legacy after a difficult period in his career.

Ben Whittaker vs. Liam Cameron: Athletic Attributes and Career Graph

Born on June 6, 1997, in Darlaston, England, Ben Whittaker is seven years younger than his opponent, Liam Cameron. Born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Cameron will turn 34 on October 21. Whittaker holds a slight height advantage, standing at 6 feet and three inches, or 191 centimeters, compared to Cameron’s 6 feet and 2 inches, or 188 centimeters. Unfortunately, details about the hand reach of both boxers are not available.

Although the final weigh-ins for the fight have yet to be completed, both boxers have consistently made weights in their previous bouts. During his last fight against Eworitse Ezra Arenyeka, weighing 175 pounds, Ben Whittaker met the stipulated weight requirements of the division. On the other hand, Liam Cameron tipped the scales at 174.5 pounds when he fought Lyndon Arthur three months ago.

Commencing his professional boxing career just two years ago, Whittaker has thus far participated in 8 bouts. He has yet to face a loss. With 5 of his wins secured via knockouts, his knockout-to-win rate stands at 62%. At the opposite corner, Liam Cameron is a seasoned veteran who began his journey in 2009. Out of the 30 fights under his belt, ‘Cannonball’ emerged victorious in 23, where 10 ended in early stoppages. He has six losses, with one fight ruled a ‘no-contest’.

Ben Whittaker vs. Liam Cameron: Fight Breakdown and Insights

A combination of his boxing pedigree, which includes the Tokyo Olympics silver medal and a successful and active boxing schedule, might have perhaps convinced many to consider Ben Whittaker the favorite to win. At -1700 odds, he clearly edges out Liam Cameron, who will step into the step as a +800 underdog.

But is that sufficient to rule out the Sheffield-born fighter? For Cameron, the October 12 duel is rather deeply personal. He has a lot to prove. Though not entirely on a successful trajectory, Cannonball’s career took a nosedive following the 2018 Nicky Jenman fight. Per available reports, the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) agency handed over a suspension over 4 years as reports of Cameron failing drug tests emerged. After his 2019 appeal bore no fruit, he decided to hang the gloves.

He remained outside the ring until marking his return on October 6 last year. Speaking with iFL TV, he said, “I’m proud of myself. Listen, I got myself to drag myself off me off my hands and my knees to this position, and people have helped me, but like the weight loss journey, I bet you could tell I’ve lost a lot more since you’ve last seen me, so I’m just buzzing. I’m here just on merit.”

After his return fight last October, which he won on points, Cameron, like Whittaker, fought actively, winning two of this year’s three fights—both through knockouts. His sixth professional loss to Lyndon Arthur was a split decision setback. It’s worth noting that ‘Cannonball’ has yet to suffer a knockout loss in his long career. However, positives aside, questions on his extended layoff and return to form might still trigger some unease. More so, one might ask—how many fighters of Ben Whittaker’s caliber has Cameron faced in the past?

Whittaker, who considers the two-time Olympic gold medalist Mario Kindelan as his biggest inspiration, remains confident of continuing on his winning streak. “I’ll make Liam Cameron’s fight look easy if I’m the real deal,” he said. It’s unclear whether he would resort to his usual flamboyant style to taunt Liam Cameron. However, fans could expect him to use his excellent footwork and superior punching power to pull off an early stoppage. 

Liam Cameron might be proud of his accomplishment. Against defying odds, he managed to stage a commendable return. However, to put his boxing career on the right track, he faces an uphill task. Fans will be eagerly waiting to see if he can rise to the occasion and reign in ‘The Drunken Master’.

The final weigh-in results will be shared when available, providing the last piece of information before this highly anticipated clash.

Do you feel Ben Whittaker will be ready for a title shot if he wins on Saturday night?