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Is Ben Whittaker Boxing’s Next Superstar?

October 2, 20260 comments♥ 0
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00:47visit connectsonterio.ca.This is five live boxing.Ben Whittaker lost in an Olympic final.He's unbeaten as a professional,and he's a fight or two away from being a major star,not just in British boxing, but in global boxing.He fights this Saturday.I'm Steve Bunce, and this is Five Live Boxing.
01:17Ben, it's always odd in a fight week.Sometimes you can be in really relaxed places.We're sitting down, the sun's out,we're in a beautiful little four-court.People are drinking cappuccinos,and yet I've got to talk to youabout the most important fight of your life as a professional.How ridiculous is that?
01:31It's a bit mad, isn't it?I remember a funny story, I was with Andy Lee,and we was just talking about our boxing experiences.And he said when he was in the schoolboy final.Boxing for Repton?Yeah, he remembers driving up thereand looking at people going to the servicesand going to the shops and just getting drinks.
01:49And he was like, why is the world not stopping?I'm fighting today in the final.And I used to think like that.I was like, I'm fighting.It's the biggest part of my life.Why does no one care?But life just goes on, really.And when you get past that,
02:03you get so calm in life.Because he's like, yeah, you enjoy.enjoying it, you enjoy your sport, you love your sport, but it is a sport. Don't take it too serious.Just that's good. Exactly. I find that relaxation. Like you said, you come here, I've got a bigfight on the weekend and people are just laughing, chatting, laughing and joking in the background,drinking coffers and stuff. Oh yeah, nice. Leaning the face up to the son. Exactly.In the past, you and I, when we've talked, it's generally been about people being critical ofstuff you've done in the ring, it's that marmite expression. And then we talk maybe about the
02:33Liam Cameron first fight when your legs are up in the area, you fall out the rest.I think we've gone past that now, Ben.I think we're now moved to a different stage of you.This is a hard fight.He's brave, he's bold, Connor Wallace.He knows what he's got to do to beat youand he knows what beating you means.So that makes him dangerous.
02:49And also, you're getting closer and closer.So I don't want to make your head too swell too much,but you're getting closer and closer to global recognition.You're leading a pack.Are you feeling a bit of extra pressure?No, but I think I heard this quote,the other day, it's quite true. Having pressure is a privilege.Being in a position where you've got eyes on you, a lot of
03:11opinions, people want to see your next move.Take it as a privilege because it won't be here forever. So that's why I'mtreating it now. But yeah, good fight. And in his boxing game,each fight is a step-up. And this is the step-up to where you want to be.The more game they are, the more they come to fight to win,the more I get to show how good I am. So it's a fight that I'm looking forward to,but I think it's a fight that I'll excel in.I think it's a fight that you'll excel in. And as you're absolutely right,
03:35The stronger they are, the brave how they are,the bolder they are, the prouder they are,the better it plays it, the Ben Whitaker's hands.Exactly, 1,000%.And I think the real good thing about me is,I can off-should now, I can hit and hurt,I can dance on one foot,I can do the fundamentals,
03:51I can be a bit awkward at times.So there's always a, plan B, plan C, plan.So for me, it's not what they bring,it's what I'll bring.And people missed all that, didn't they?They missed all the fundamentals for years and years.They went, oh, he's dancing again.Why is he doing that?
04:04And they missed the fact that your balance was brilliant, your jab was brilliant, your timing was brilliant.And that's what I think's come out under Andy Lee.I think he's polished a few of the edges, if you don't mind me saying so,and he's pulled out some of the stuff that was there.Because it's a great run of stoppies, and they're good stoppages, aren't they?They're not clipping guys that are rubbish.They're clipping good guys.Exactly.
04:24Well, the last fight in America, a lot of people, oh, he's fighting these tin men.It's like, at the end of the day, he could have been Cruzeaway WBC World Champion,He fought on Badu Jack who's a great fighter,lost on a very close decision.Tight decision.Very tight.And it just shows what Calabas are.I got him out there in fine fashion.
04:45But yeah, like the fundamentals,you don't become a European medalist,world medalist, Olympic medalist.Olympic finalist.Exactly.You can say finalist.You can say finalist, all right?But you don't get all that
04:55from not being able to do the A, Bs and Cs.So being able to do that with my flair,that's what makes me dangerous.That's really interesting that,because the A, Bs and Cs are what peopledidn't know that Roy Jones used all the time.People just saw the flashness and the speed,but it was all fundamental. It was all grounded.
05:10So let's say we move on.Let's say we get past colonists. I know we've done lookingpast fights, but you are moving intorarefied area. You are movinginto some specialfighters out there. Some guys left over in Britain,let's get that right. Whether Callum Smithdoes fight Dimitri Bivel in December is irrelevant.
05:26There are a lot of British light heavy weights.There's a lot of global light heavyweights.There are names that prove, and it's a horrible word,but they're great scalps.100% I think, like you said, it's horrible word,but it's true to get those on your record,get that win, get that on your resume.It does look nice, especially when it's all said and done.
05:42You say him, ticked him off, him ticked him off.But I think we are getting to an exciting but new part of the light heavyweight game.I think it was very packed.It was very busy, but people are starting to slow down a little bit.Those two giants, better a bit of and beer.Ten unbelievable years, man.Exactly.It was amazing what they've done.
06:01It just shows how good the way it was because it was both there in the poundpound. But I think they are slowing down now. They get into that age where they might haveone or two fights left. You're seeing the people like Benavides, will he go up? Will he stay there?So I think it's opening up this new door for the new age like myself and I think I'm at the right time,right place and I'll be the facing. Yeah, it looks that way and I'm hoping that way. And inthe fact, the kind of crowd we're expected on Saturday do come. They're the crowd that's goingto come back. If you had to choose someone and it's a thing that boxers don't like doing,who would you pick us? Then let's say in,
06:34of next year, April next year, big fight, big test, real test, where you're not a massivefavourite.Yeah.What would you do?Good question, like you said, you can never overlook what's going on Saturday, get throughthat.It is for the IBF number one.So if it's the IBF number one, you want the IBF champion, so that makes sense.
06:51But then again, what will he do?He has to get through Callum Smith first.So that puts him to at least about June, doesn't it, really?June or July.What do you do?Exactly.And there's so many names, I'm very privileged to be able to probably pick them all.all out the hat.
07:05But there's so many names.It would be nice to get a domestic one.I think the British fans love a domestic dust.It's a big domestic ones there, man.If it had to be someone, maybe a yard or something.Arsenal versus Tottenham.That would be nice.The Antony Yard fight, I mean,
07:17Antony Yard has just been,it should be applauded anywhere he goes.Yeah, he's done.The guts, the bravery,going to Kovalev, taking it to Baturbia.You know, but he's a great,it would be a great hate the word scout, wouldn't he?That's the end, that's what I'm looking at.
07:31I think the only people who's lost to his top,top names.The top names.names. And then you put me on there, but like, yeah, you know. And he's not an old man,old man. Exactly. He's still in good shape. He's fought the best, but I just think that would benice because it's Arsenal, Tottenham and... You like that little bit of Angkor. Tatum can finally beArsenal. Yeah, well, that might happen in a fight, but in football in terms, I mean, we're a long wayoff that one. And they've got a better stadium, I guess. Exactly. Yeah, quite like the stadium. Yeah,
07:54we quite like the stadium. Exactly, exactly. Ben, listen, let me, let me ask you aboutSaturday. Final question, Saturday. There's a lot of people coming to watch you on Saturday. As youpressure is absolutely a privilege.The ring will, when do you,when do you sort of get absolutely in fight game, fight mode?I've never asked before,is it on the day, the night before, the morning, the breakfast,when you get to the dress room, when you get to the ring?
08:18When is it?I think each day you're just slowly turning that screw, you know,like you get a bit more serious,you kind of know what's on the plate,but don't let it overwhelm you know.I think as soon as you get in those hands wraps,you know it's time.There's no escaping there.
08:30Exactly.You can't run off then.And then they knock the door.They say, you're ready?Let's go.We do our final prayer, and it's showtime.Then I turn into the surgeon.Do you have a busy dressing room beforehand?
08:41I used to you back in the day.Friends, family, everyone you can think of people I didn't even know.But now it is, now it is nice, small.They're there for the right reasons.My dad, my brother, my coach, manager.A couple of people.And that's it, really.It's small.
08:58They're there for a reason.It's good.They've been with me through the whole camp.Forget what's going on.So I think that's the best way.You don't need too many hangers on really.No, you don't need any.Yeah, exactly.
09:08It's true, exactly.You just name you, you're naming the people you love.The people you love and the people you trust.Exactly.Not only that, you said they've been through the ups and downs with you.So you look to them and go, yeah, I'm doing it for them as well.So it's nice to have them there.Ben, that's absolutely lovely.
09:21Thank you very much.Thank you, very much.Nice, man, thank you.So as Ben Wander's away, he's over there talking in the sunshinewith Eddie Free Capuccino, Hearn,who of course is still reeling a little bit from yesterday,from the massive press conference that took place,Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury
09:38and all of the sideshows that came with that.Eddie looked absolutely exhaustious.It looks like a refreshed man.A new man has taken his seat, obviously,and he got to mention, obviously, in Ben's interview,and that's Andy Lee.Andy, first of all, before I start,he told me a great story.
09:53About when you were 11 or 12 years of age,with Repton, probably with Kevin Bowers and George Bowersin a car on a train going up to Derbyto the final.and you're looking out of the window and you're going,looking at another window, looking at a window,going, why isn't everybody, you know,what, I'm in the scoreboard finals today
10:10under 39 kilos or whatever you were.Why isn't everybody, what doesn't everybody know?Why doesn't everybody know?52 kilos.52 kilos, yeah, a bit bigger enough of all, yeah.So, so in all fairness,and Ben's a bit like that at the moment, you know,he's about to be fighting near enough in his hometown
10:26in front of a big crowd in a really important fight.And yet the world goes on,look, there's people laughing behind you drinking coffee.And he said, I like that.And that's what I like about him.Yeah, well, just like, that's the beauty of life, isn't it?You try to wrap your head around it.Everyone's living their own.
10:45Everyone has their world title fight on Saturday.You don't know, whatever they're dealing with, that's their priority.And it's, I realize at that young age,going back to the stories, that the world goes on regardless.You know what I mean?Tomorrow morning, life's going to go on.no matter if I win or loseand it was
11:03it took the weightor the pressure off megoing into thatwhen you realised that?Yeah, I did.Did you win that school?Did you win that school?Did you?
11:12My first schoolboy is I lostin the semi-finalto Jimmy Sweeneywho's nowBKBbare-knuckle champion.Wow, that's a good.He boxed for Trojian,
11:20I boxed for wrestling.Second year I won it.Third year I won itand the fourth year I went to Irelandmoved to Ireland by that stageand I'd won it over there.Trojian in North West London?Yeah.
11:29That is an absolute massiveTraveler Club.No, no, seriously.The man that set it up, Stevie Newland.I mean, he almost had a policy that everybody had to be indirectly.Oh, he's a great junior coach.A brilliant, like a genius junior coach.Ben seems to have his head really in the right place.
11:47And I think he understands that this is, obviously it's a must-win fight.But it's also a fight he understands that he can win and look very, very good doing it.Yeah, I agree with all those things.Ben is destined for greatness.and we were driving in the cara couple days agoand I justI said like I see you not just being a world champion
12:12not just being somebody like mewho worked all their life to win a world titlebut that was my pinnaclebut I see him beingunified if not undisputedand one of the faces of boxingyou know when you look at the faces of boxingyou got Canello and Tyson and AJ
12:30and rightand Garcia maybeand you're going toput Ben in that categoryyou know eventuallyI mean some of us haveyou know we've always fancied we've alwayswanted that we've always liked that
12:43but it didn't really get seriousuntil you came on board in my opinionwe saw that there was loads of elements of itbut then in the Liam Cameronrematch and then the fight since when he'slooked when he's mixed atthe basics the fundamentals which he'sgot that core fundamental set of punches
12:59and balance that he's got along withsome of the looseness, the flashnessand the Ben Whitaker-style stuff.And it has changed in the last 18 months, in my opinion.So that now we have got a guy who's on the cusp of this winand another win, and then we're in serious,rarefied boxing air.But it's where he belongs.
13:17You look at his history and competing against the bestfrom a very young age.And you don't win an Olympic silver medalist, you know?Split decision lost to a Cuban.And heartbroken to go that way, you know?He was, he's inconsolableYeah, soThis is an extreme
13:35I don't know where he's feeling isAn extremely talented boxerWho trains as hard as anyone I've ever seenAnd he's picking up his experienceAnd he's perfecting his craftAnd you just give him the right timeHe's gonna do, he's gonna be the bestNow they're saying this is an eliminator
13:56For the IBF titleI say that final eliminatorsBecause obviously things can be movedand shifted in boxingand they are constantly movedand shifted in boxing.Now, Dmiti Bivel is the IBF champion.He's not as old as you think.
14:07I think he's only 35,36 nearly at Christmas.In theory he's fighting Callum Smith,we're told in Moscow,but that still could fall out of bedbecause fights like that do fall out of bed.Assuming he beats Callum Smithand assuming that Ben beats Connor,
14:23Connor Wallace,would you go,would you take a Bivel fightif it was on offerfor May or June of next year?Yes.you would go straight to ityou had no problem with that
14:33I think Ben has the talentto compete with himBen's ready for any of the world champions nowyou look at the way the division has gonewith Benavides moving uphe's got to move upit's open you know andBen is
14:46listen if it's not the next fightit will be the one after thatso we're very close to it nowlistenlet's not take away off the ball eitherhe's got to do a job on Saturday nightand Connor realises how big an opportunityexactly and when people are fighting
15:00in Ben, it's their world title fight.It's a big chance for themto upset everything thathe's built andput their name in the lights.So he's got to be focusedon Saturday and those fights willcome. It's only a matter of time. He's with one of the best
15:16promoters in the game. He's gota huge fan base. He sold outthis arena andhe's only growing really.It's only getting going but I lovethe activity he's had and the consistencyhe's had and he's had longer withme in Ireland this time than usual and the benefits it will be shown on Saturday night.
15:35And what's interesting about him, of course, there is that sort of two, or people think there'stwo sides. They see, you know, the way he performs in the ring. But I know I've done itbefore, but that's not Ben, is it? Or the flashness and the dancing and the moving around and thesmiling, you know, as a character, as a person, you know, that's what he does. That's how he performs.He doesn't walk down the road mocking people on street corners. Exactly, yeah.Yeah, that's what I meant by that. Yeah. He's the most, like,We've been walking around, obviously, in Burma, the last few days,and he's got time for everybody.
16:03People are stopping their cars.People like him, don't they?Yeah.And he appeals to children.He appeals to people who are not just hardcore boxing fans.That's the special thing about him.I'm not surprised he appeals to children, if you don't mind me saying so.And he's got a full-on outfit, including gloves,
16:19that have got skeleton bones on them.So he's walking around as a six-foot-four-inch skeleton.Kids tend to gravitate to walk stuff like that.My kids love him.Yeah, exactly, yeah.Yeah.It was a funny thing because you know the way you have these throwaway expressions.I was at the breakfast table the other day
16:31and I was telling my wifeI was saying how's Ben getting onand he's looking unrealhe's hurting everyoneand you knowdon't we say thatin like in boxingand then my six-year-old son's like
16:41he's hurting everyonedad Ben's hurting itwhy is he hurting everyoneyeah he just couldn't get his head aroundyou know what I meanit's just a throwaway commentcouldn't get his head around the businessbut
16:51yeah listen II'm very pleased with Benand very fortunate to train himand be able to guide this special journeyAndy, can I just ask you a couple of bitson a couple of the other other fight?Is that okay?Where are we with Joseph Parker?
17:06He's got a clear.He can come back.And where are with Hamza Chiras?Both guys were hoping to fight before the end of the year.Regarding Hamza, there should be announcementin the next 10 days to two weeks.Joseph, we should have a decisionin the next few days of when he's going to fight again.
17:24We're working with Spencer Brown for Joseph,for both fighters, really.We're working with Spencer.and hoping to secure them fightsbut hopefully before the end of the yearJoe will get Joe back.I was speaking to him last nightand he's ready to put this chapter behind him
17:37and the year with a good winand make a title charge next year.Andy, thank you very much.You can go off and wander over there.Now I'm going to go insideand find where old triple cappuccino Eddie's gonebecause he's left the sunshine.He's somewhere in, so let me go and find him.
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19:01Listen on BBC.com, the BBC app, or wherever you get your podcasts.Is Five Live Boxing.Eddie, Birmingham today, and we were a long way from the Fury and AJ conference.And I'm just going to let you know, you can't say two words about,it's a name you can't mention, okay?We're going to get through this interview without mentioning.He's disappeared now anyway.Well, good.
19:32Thank the Lord.Ben Whittaker.I'm told reliably that he's suddenly taken offthat maybe it's doing more tickets than you're expectedwhich is absolutely fantastic for everybody.Do you know this will be our biggest crowd,actually the biggest crowd in Birminghamfor boxing since Amir Khan
19:51which we promoted here probably like 10 years ago,something like that.And you're right at what you say,when you start a journeyand we got involved a little bit late in the journey of Ben Whittakerbut the last fight we brought himobviously was in MSG, then he was in Liverpool.But the last time we're in Birmingham,
20:08did about 4,000.We'll have double that this time.And it will just feel different.Do you know what I mean?And it will start to feel like the making of a pay-per-viewBritish superstar.Yeah, and it's a real great feeling as wellbecause it shows the work that we're doing
20:25and more importantly the work that he's doingwhen he's a bit of a master at that as well.He's really working.So this time it's a final eliminator.It's a shot to become the mandatory challengefor the world title.It's a really good fight.Connor Wallace was a fantastic amateur.
20:38He's brought 400 over from Ireland.So you're going to get that great atmosphere.Yeah.And, you know, it's a good test.Great card.Two British title fights on a card as well.But I feel like now we really start to see Wittaker get the...Basically, I think the best way to describe it is,
20:56it's all going to plan.Exactly to plan of how we want.Now we need a show stopping performance on Saturday.And we're no longer talking about whether he's a mommight fight. We're no longer talking about whetheryou like or hate or love hisantics. We're no longer talking about beingthrown over the ropes by Liam Cameron. We've gone
21:12past that. He's sorted that out. He's on a great runof quick stoppages. He looks like a transformedfighter, Andy Lee. And we're gettingto this point now where he's not quite thatglobal star, but he's leading a packof a dozen others globally who are tryingto be that star. For sure. I think if you look at thelandscape of boxing, tell me anyone
21:28else coming through that doesit quite like Ben Whittaker. I mean, don't getme wrong, there's some amazing fighters, but whohas the ability, who has the amateurpedigree. So you know this isn't hype.I think people in the knowthis kid's a serious fighter.Put that in with the following,
21:44which he has, you know, the online presenceas well, which is very important in today's age.With the increasenow at the box office, at thegate, and now with a viewership on TV,it's all coming togetherwonderfully. So what he's got to do is just keepperforming. And I really feel like
22:00under Andy Lee, I think the one thing thatpeople aren't talking about as much,is how hard Wittaker's punching now.I think Andy Lee's got him hit him really hard.I mean, if you look at the last, what, three fights,two first round, stop, which is in the second round stop.And then Liam came before that in the second round.Exactly.
22:15So it's four quickies.The last four fights, what, five rounds.And destructive finishes, you know what I mean by that?Absolutely.And he's a guy that come, you know, he's coming to take people out,and it's exciting.And I think when you look back at the antics that kind of were responsible for the internetexplosion of Ben Wittaker.
22:33The dancing and that's.You see it now, but it's more refined because it's now quite serious.So, like, the stuff that was hilarious back in the dayagainst levels of opposition he could do that to,he still showboats, but in a way that's probably a little bit more respectfulto the level of opposition.Just going back a little bit to that sort of global platformwhere we think he's going, this is the right time
22:53because a lot of the fighters that we've had for 10 unbelievable years,maybe 50 massive fights between them, stadium fights.I'm talking about AJ, not finished yet, I know.Katie has finished.They're one or two other fighters that are just coming to the end.We haven't got three years left of them or five years let of them.That's why I think it's so important that Ben doesn't just look good,that he leaves a mark going forward.
23:14Yeah, I think, you know, like you say, we're crying out for those new starsto sort of carry the baton of those that exit the game.And like you said there, you know, AJ is in the last chapter of his career.Fury the same.You know, Katie Taylor, like you said, gone, and, you know,you look at fighters like Ben Whittaker.And in fact, October, very important for British Box.and for Matrim in the sense of Ben Whittaker and Dalton Smith.
23:38You know, obviously, Dalton Smith now fighting at that levelwhere he's in a brilliant world championship fightdefending his WBC World Tile against Puello.It's the worst homecoming in history, by the way,the hardest homecoming in history.It is.And, you know, he deserves credit for that.So I look particularly at Whittaker and Dalton Smith and those guys,
23:53these are the new wave coming through.And certainly Ben Whittaker, with that noise that is creating globally,he's in a great position to become, like we said,the next superstar of British boxing.When you've been on the road, Ed, in America especially, people are talking about Whitaker, right?That's not me inventing things or you're inventing things.People that shows in America are talking about Ben Whittaker.And New York was the perfect platform for us.
24:16Packed out, Barclay Centre, big audience, people love him, you know.And he's in a great position, a wonderful position to take advantage of that.He's got it all.He has got it all.You know, and I think, you know, I actually know Connor Wallace quite well.He was a great amateur.he's a very good fighter.He's also very game.
24:36And he has to, you know, yeah, yeah.And, you know, Ben is so explosive.And this is the first time Conner's been part of this kind of event.And sometimes you can come out really over-excited.And if you do that against a counterpuncher like Whittaker,with that kind of sharpness, you know,it's going to be a tough night for him.And congratulations.
24:54You have got through the interview without mentioning a certain name.Although you did mention Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.but you got through it about mentioning that manand I'm really delightful.I'm proud of you, I'm proud of you.Thanks, mate. We come a long way.So that was Eddie Hearn there talking to me nowand as Eddie was talking, you might have heard him
25:11he broke away and that was to say hello to Colin Wallacewho went to the toilet.Now, contrary to popular belief,I don't do interviews in the toiletso I've waited for Connard to come out.Cody was talking about four so hundred fansthat you're bringing over.It's a big fight, it's a big occasion,
25:26it's a final eliminator.It's going to be a big crowd in there.Those are the Knights Fighters dream of, aren't they?nights like that.As I say, I've turned about this since it was a young boy, you know what I mean?This didn't happen overnight.It's a lifetime of hard work, and I've earned my spot to be here.You know, there's a massive crowd coming from Ireland and Australia,
25:40and I'm looking forward to putting on a good show on Saturday night.I've seen you today, and I saw you the other day was at Tuesday,when I noticed you was in the hotel.And I just thought, you look really calm.You look like, it's an odd thing to say.You don't like you're looking forward to it.This is what we do it for, you know what I mean?I've worked my whole life for this, as I've said,
25:58I get my confidence from my hard work,and I'm going to show that.They're completely overriding me here on Saturday night,and I love that.I do my best work when I'm the underdog.And Ben, obviously, got to the Olympic final,and he's a good fighter.He's a bit of what we call a Marmite fighter,
26:13so some people really dislike himbecause of his antics in the ring,but there's more to him than the antics in the ring,and you obviously know that.I'm stating the obvious.There's more to him than the antics.I'm under no illusions.You know, he's a top-class amateur and operator,
26:27you know, even in the pros as well.He's got a great time with Andy, like, I'm under no illusions,and that's why that gets me up out of bed in the morning.That's why I work so hard.You know what I mean?And I'm looking forward to it.Is they're going to be in for a shock on Saturday?That was Connor Wallace.
26:38Now I'm going to go outside,because there's a kid making his debut on the bill.I spoke to last year before the World Championships in Liverpool.He went up to the World Championships and lost a split in the semisto the guy that walked the final.So, and the kids from Liverpool, and it was in Liverpool.I didn't even go up and commiserate with himbecause I wasn't sure what sort of mood is in.
26:57That's Odor Kamar, and he's fighting.making his debut on Saturday.First of all, how has life been since last September?It's been unbelievable.You know, it's been, like, obviously a mad chain of eventsthat have led to this moment.And I'm just soaking it all in at the moment.Enjoying it?
27:12Yeah, yeah, loving it.Is it tiring, you know?No, not at all.You sure?I promise, yeah.Because you've done a couple of events this week,and people want to talk to you?No, I'm loving it, honestly.
27:21Like, you only get one debut, don't you?So I'm just thinking,take all this in one step at a timeand show everybody,what you can do. And it's a good bill to make your debut on. You're not buried on a little show.You're not at the bottom of a show that's not that good. This is a proper bill.Yeah, well, Matry would have made a big deal at this from the start, obviously doing the promoon the boat. Sam Jones going flying off.
27:43Let me ask you this, how many times did Sam Jones, your agent manager? How many times did he actuallydid it? Or did he do it the first time? He was pushed up to the first time. It was like,it was offensive. You just committed to it.And Sam was claiming he broke like nine ribs and his cheekbones and he's, I mean, he's reallymilked it.He always put in, yeah. He was just filling a bit of water.He puts a bevy on everything, doesn't he?But he had a massive bruise down his leg, like,
28:05bruise came down there, it was mad.It was good.I mean, I was talking to Ben Whittaker earlier on,and he said, you might have heard this expression,and he said that pressure is a privilege.Could you understand it?Because even though it's your first fight,there was a little bit of pressure.
28:19There was a bit of a bid for you.There's a lot of people gallant for you.Let's get it right internationally as well.So you like the idea that you got under a bit of pressure.Yeah, I love it.Well, I've always said pressure makes down.On that night I'm going to show him that diamond.And Ben Whittaker, I asked you earlier on if you had any crossover with him,
28:36but you're just a bit young and of course he'd gone off.You know, Ben Whittes must be the type of fight you like.I'm not putting words in your mouth.He's your kind of fighter, right?Of course, yeah.His flay, obviously, he carries that power as well.He's been shown in his last couple fights.He tricked people for the first ten fights.
28:50Yeah, yeah, and then it just started laying people out.So I think he shows he can do both, and that's what I'm trying to do.So, yeah, I'm going to take a lot from his game.Because you can, these guys that you're going to fight for the first six or seven fights,these really tough, hard guys.You can beat them on points comfortably.But you might try and stop them.And that's when it gets, that's when you could look ugly.
29:08So what are you going to do?No, come on, you're under pressure, son.You're under pressure, what are you going to do?Well, honestly, yeah.You're going to box sensibly or you're going to try and knock them all out.I'm trying to knock them all right.I'm not going to lie to you.That's the correct answer.
29:19It comes with my style, though, you know what I mean?So I think you still see that on the night.You're fan friendly.Yeah, definitely.And you could have got to the final of the world.champs last year, couldn't you?100%.And you could have won that, couldn't you?
29:29And that's not me to say in that.I mean, you know, on the day,I don't think it was a tailwood decision,but you could have got it.You know, you know.Yeah, well, look, it's amateur boxing in it,and these things happen.And obviously, a lot of people did think
29:41I got that fight.And I did personally, you know what I mean?But that's me, because I'm,like, you're going to be biased towards yourself.But I think I could have won themworld championships.And even, like, this would have beena whole other level then, you know what I mean?
29:53But this, just showing,like, off a bronze medal at the World Championship.The level this is already.Yeah.Sholes what I can do in the future.The final question, as part of the G.B. Squad, you get your kit.Nice kit. Don't get me wrong.We have a great group of people, really lovely group of people.
30:07Sometimes there's a little bit of music, sometimes in the background.But this is different.You get to sit down with Sam the bruise on his Fye Jones, the man that jumps from boats.He's almost like a stunt man.You get to sit down with Sam and your family and your friends and your loved ones.And you get to choose everything you're going to wear.More than that, you get to choose your music.Yeah.
30:27So what if you, could you give it away or is it secret?Can I give it away some?Or is it a surprise?Secret.I'll give you, the exclusive dance.So basically, it's going to be gospel music.L.L. Cool J.It's L.L. Cool J.
30:40Mama said knock you out.No, it's beautiful.And then it goes into one of the greatest walkout tunes of all time.Ain't no stopping us now.Oh, that man's well and truly gone, David.Hey, it's all you're.I'm passing the tour.Could I just say, could I make an appeal?
30:56I've been around a few yearsI love both, that's brilliantCould I suggest you keep it like thatBecause too many fightersswap and change and chop and changeLet's stick with itThat's it rightWith shake hands on that
31:08O'Dell, it's a pleasure to talk to youI will speak to you againAnd after a few fights alrightWell be every fightBut after a few fightsAlright, O'Dell Camaro, thank you very muchThank you for thatNow I don't often interview
31:18men and women before their debutsBut with O'Dell I wanted toSo that in five years or 10 yearswe can come back to that interview.He is a special talent,and he's going to be on in the fight before Ben,which I particularly love.Thanks to Ben for spending some time with me in the sunshine.
31:37Thanks to Andy Lee.Thanks to Connor Wallace.And thanks, of course, to Eddie Hearn,who managed to get for the interviewwithout mentioning Dana White.Now, we're on Saturday night.We're on from 7 o'clock on Sports Extra,and then the main event will be at about 10 p.m. 5 live.
31:53That's Ben Whittaker against Connor Wallace, a final eliminator for the IBF light heavyweight title.But more than that, it's the fight where Ben just steps over that line.It's been a big week in boxing.As you know, I won't do any of the cliched stuff, I really won't.But I'm Steve Bunce, and this has been five-life boxing.This is the football story of the century.It's pandemonium, it's ecstasy.It's an authoritarian regime.
32:19For the past 15 years, English football has been dominated by,Manchester City. They are champions again, but not only that, they've won it four years running,and no one's done that, ever. Then the Premier League dropped a bombshell. The Premier League hascharged Manchester City with more than a hundred breaches of its financial rules following a four-yearinvestigation. Somebody turned up at the Hetty had stadium and effectively served papers.Here in-depth analysis and explanation on football on trial. The Manchester City charges,listen on BBC Sounds.It's late 2007 and while attending a Christmas party, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg meets a woman who would change the course of his company forever.
33:03She joined Facebook as chief of operations in 2008 and has been credited for making the company profitable.And herself enormously rich.On Good Bad Billionaire, we're exploring the life and fortune of billionaire tech leader Cheryl Sandberg.Listen on BBC.com, the BBC app or wherever you get your podcasts.