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Philippines, 20 Dec 2025 |
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BEN WHITTAKER PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS NEW MATCHROOM SIGNING MEETS GAVAZI – PLUS: VUONG vs GWYNNE II PhilBoxing.com Sun, 19 Oct 2025  Ben Whittaker went head-to-head with Benjamin Gavazi for the first time today ahead of his Matchroom Boxing debut at The NEC in Birmingham on November 29 – live worldwide on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN. The Team GB Olympic hero was officially unveiled by Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn at a Press Conference in London. Whittaker revealed he is ready to level up, insisting he is feeling "great" and "excited" to get started as Hearn dubbed the Light Heavyweight sensation as the "future" of the sport. Rivals Cameron Vuong and Gavin Gwynne were reunited going into their eagerly anticipated rematch too – with both men looking to set the record straight when they meet in the Midlands next month, a year on from their hotly debated first fight. Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman: “Well, good afternoon everyone and welcome to London. Firstly, I must say anyone that can get me to do that is a very important person. Not just an important person but a very special fighter. And this is kind of like a two-pronged press conference. Firstly of course, the first time we’ve really got to discuss the signing of the man to my right, Ben Whittaker. And also, to announce his fight at the NEC in Birmingham November 29 against Benjamin Gavazi, of course WBC International Silver Champion. This fight for the WBC Silver Title. A fight that’s going to put both guys well within the top 10, probably top 5, of the WBC rankings in one of the toughest divisions in sport. “As we said, I kind of felt like for many years, we’ve known this was inevitable. When we put pen to paper just over a week ago, it was a good feeling. People say to me all of the time: ‘Who is the next big star of British boxing?’ We’ve been blessed with Anthony Joshua in the last few years as he comes up to the final rolls of the dice. We’re looking at the future. “We’re looking at those guys like Naseem Hamed, Chris Eubank Sr, Amir Khan – those names that are synonymous with British boxing. The man to my right, I believe is the guy to do it. A great self-promoter. A guy that understands the marketing side of the sport. But also, more importantly for me as a fight fan, an elite fighter. A guy that I’ve known about for 6/7 years. I had conversations with Team GB, Rob McCracken, all these guys, silver medal in the Olympics. We knew that Ben Whittaker has all the ingredients to become a great fighter. “The job now over the next 12 months particularly with Andy Lee, one of the best trainers in the world, is to get him in the position to, not just be a global star of the sport of boxing, but also to be able to challenge the elite guys within - as I said - one of the toughest divisions in the sport.” Ben Whittaker: “I’m excited to join the [Matchroom Boxing] team. First of all, I want to thank my lord and saviour Jesus Christ. I want to thank Andy Lee, Will Harvey, Frank Smith and yourself. We knew this was going to happen. We’ve aligned now. I think it’s a perfect partnership. It’s something you don’t want to miss. “That’s what gets me excited, and DAZN, I’ve got that opportunity fight around the world. I’ve got global fans, and my global fans have been screaming for that opportunity, and here we are. “He’s going to be a tough opponent. He’s coming to win, but that’s what we want. When they come to win, they’re easier to beat. With Andy Lee, with the work we’ve been putting in, I feel great. “Yeah. He’s coming to win. He’s ambitious. I’m going to keep it short and sweet. I’m going to slice and dice him and turn him into a German Donner Kebab. That’s what I’m going to do with him, real quick. I’m in Ireland now so I’m nice and calm. Everybody knows my pedigree. They know what I can do. I’m so excited to show you what we can do on the 29th. It’s going to be an amazing show. There’s a couple of shows on that night apparently, but you know which one to tune into.” Andy Lee: “I like the challenge as well, because he’s going to come to win. You can see he’s got his team here, welcome to his team. Welcome to Benjamin. He’s a spirited fighter. If he spoils the party, he’s a huge name in boxing himself. So, he’s got it all to gain. Make no mistakes, we’re taking him very seriously. It’s a step in Ben’s development and it will be a goof win for him, and he will go on to become one of the best Light-Heavyweights this country has ever produced. “We train in humble surroundings. That’s what we are. Ben is a pleasure to train. Even though he’s a showman and has that bravado, he is also very humble – even though people might not believe it! He’s a phenomenal talent. I’m very excited and it’s a pleasure to train him. I’m very fortunate that we get to work together.” Benjamin Gavazi: “First of all, thank you for the opportunity. To you Eddie Hearn and Matchroom and my team. Yes I want to take this chance and to win this fight. “Last time I was the underdog, nobody believed in me. Now I am the underdog and I am ready to shock the boxing world and to show what kind of fighter I am. “I don’t think about that too much, now I am focused on fight. I know what when I win this fight my life will change, but I am focused on November 29th. “I am happy and ready. I’m in shape, and I can’t wait for November 29. Let’s do this.” Dominic Gavazi: “First of all, hello to everybody. We have 20 fights, we go now for fight No.21. He has 10. It’s not only about the pro fights, he has big experience in amateurs. We cannot calculate he has more or less fights. It’s about fighters. We’re happy he gets his chance. We waited a long time to have a chance like this one. You talk about him being an underdog but no, I see this as a 50-50 fight. We want to see what happens on November 29. “We don’t talk about game plan but you’re right. He has everything you need for a fighter. He is aggressive. He can fight forward, he has a great defence. He has a good jab. Every fight we change a little bit. Every fight he progresses in some part. In this fight again you will see that something has happened with him.” Cameron Vuong: “Of course. There’s going to be times in that fight where I’ve got to stand in that pocket. I’m well aware of that. I believe I won the first fight. I won it unanimously. People have a difference of opinion and that’s fine. “If people don’t think I won that first fight, that’s why we’re here this time around – to make sure there’s no dispute. I believe I’m a year more mature, a year better, a year stronger. Like you said, maybe it was a fight too early. “I’ve got more experience under my belt now. I’ve done the rounds, and I believe it will be a different fight this time around. I’m excited. I think my resume is like no other for a prospect with under ten fights. “I do also think that’s why prospects are scared to take those risks. Scared of the stick they’re going to get off the back of it. But listen, it can only make us better. “November 29, I will be better, and I’ll put on a masterclass performance. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve got a lot of respect for Gav, obviously he’s done great things in the sport. But it’s my time now and he's going to find out.” Gavin Gwynne: “And you (Eddie) believe I won the first fight, remember? You called me, you were like, ‘Gav, we’ve got to get this back on, I believe you won it’. You dragged me back in the ring after it didn’t you. “It was too early (for Cameron) and we found that out on the night. Being a championship fighter and going against elite level opposition is totally different to going against average journeymen. Jeff Ofori is not a journeyman, but he’s an average sort of fighter. Whereas myself I’m a championship fighter. It’s a totally different kettle of fish. “It was a good fight. It was back and forth for the first couple of rounds. From 3 or 4 rounds onwards I took over and I dragged him into my sort of fight. Like I’ve said to him, if he stands there and trades with me it’ll be an early night. “I think in the next fight now obviously he’s teamed up with Ben Davison who’s a great trainer. Ben has had me up there sparring with his boys, so he knows I’m no pushover. They’re going to try and outbox me on the backfoot and box and move. “In an interview with Charlie Parsons he said he’s going to stand in the pocked and trade with me, if he does that it’s going to be a very painful night for himself.”  |
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