Fast-rising prospect Ben Whittaker had fans in awe of his highlight reel-worthy fights just a few days ago. Now, everyone seems to have turned on the Englishman after pictures of his injured ankle surfaced on social media. The 27-year-old faced the most experienced fighter of his career thus far last Saturday night, Liam Cameron. The fight came to a highly unusual end. Why? 

Whittaker started strong, but Cameron’s experience quickly made its way to the forefront, and the tide of the fight changed quickly. By the end of the fifth round, Whittaker and Cameron grappled on the ropes and tumbled over the top. Whittaker had hurt his ankle and was taken back to the locker room in a wheelchair, while the fight was declared a technical split draw.

Liam Cameron calls for a cage fight

Earlier today, Boxing Scene took to X, sharing a picture of Whittaker’s leg when he was spotted at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, highlighting the bandages on his ankle. It’s worth mentioning that Ben Shalom, Whittaker’s promoter, told Sky Sports that the 27-year-old Brit has undergone further assessment because of a previous neck injury that got aggravated after the fall. 

“He also experienced an ankle sprain and will begin a rehab process as soon as he is cleared by doctors and is determined to be back in the ring as soon as possible,” Shalom added. Meanwhile, Cameron has been vocal about wanting a rematch and called out Whittaker on social media. “Unfinished business. We need a rematch,” he wrote. “Bring your wheelchair and we can do it in the steel cage if you like.”

While there’s no word from Whittaker’s side about the potential rematch, after fans discovered the pictures of Whittaker’s bandaged leg on social media—let’s just say, the Brit won’t like the things people had to say. 

Ben Whittaker branded a coward 

Many saw Whittaker’s last performance as an exposé of the 27-year-old’s abilities and for good reason. Before Cameron, the Brit was fighting journeymen, and while Cameron also fit that bill, he was coming off a close loss to a relatively elite-level boxer, Lyndon Arthur. 

Regardless, one user thought sarcasm was the best response to the update on Whittaker’s injured leg. “Woah, that looks serious. Somebody get that man a wheelchair 😂,” the user commented. Despite what this user felt, Whittaker’s promoter has suggested his fighter is heading into rehab for the injury. 

The next user refused to believe a hospital had done the dressing on Whittaker’s injury. “No way that has been bandaged by a hospital like that,” the user commented. It is currently unclear which hospital Whittaker was taken to or who performed the dressing.

Akin to everyone else, this user refused to acknowledge Whittaker’s injury while labeling the Brit a coward. “Lol needed a wheelchair and a trip to the hospital for that!!! Absolute coward who quit – facts,” the user wrote. It’s worth noting that this incident happened after Whittaker was running out of gas and looked physically like he was on the verge of getting dropped. 

Another user used the picture to express their thoughts on Whittaker’s performance and the dressing done on his leg. “The tape job is just as awful as his last performance 🤦🏽‍♂️,” wrote the user. Interestingly, when the fight ended, Ben Whittaker was ahead on one scorecard with 58-57, and Cameron was ahead on the other with the same numbers, while a third scored a draw 58-58. 

Someone else didn’t mince their words while expressing their thoughts on the entire thing. “Cap, he ask[ed] for that. Bruh wasn’t hurt, he was about to lose and was gassed,” read the user’s comment. However, there’s no evidence supporting that theory. 

It appears Ben Whittaker has managed to throw his fame into the gutters with his performance on Saturday night. While it’s unclear whether his injury was legitimate, that will become clear based on the next opponent he chooses. Do you think Whittaker faked his injury to save a loss?