Liam Cameron has publicly voiced his frustration over a contract dispute with Ben Whittaker, claiming officials are attempting to alter the terms of their upcoming rematch.
Cameron and Whittaker first fought in October, when the fight ended in a bizarre turn of events after the pair fell out of the ring entangled with one another. Whittaker was unable to continue, and the fight ended in a technical decision draw, though Cameron remains skeptical of Whittaker’s injury.
The Controversial First Encounter
The initial clash between Ben Whittaker, the highly-touted Olympic silver medallist, and seasoned professional Liam Cameron took place on October 12, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The bout was featured on the undercard of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol event and saw Whittaker defending his IBF International light-heavyweight title, with the vacant WBO Global light-heavyweight title also on the line.
Whittaker, known for his flashy style and an impressive professional record of 8-0-1 (5 KOs) at the time, faced a stern test in Cameron, who entered the fight with a record of 23-6-1 (10 KOs). The fight concluded dramatically in the fifth round when both fighters tumbled over the top rope and out of the ring. Reports indicated that Whittaker pulled Cameron towards the ropes, leading to the fall. Whittaker subsequently declared himself unable to continue due to an injury, reportedly to his leg or ankle. As per boxing regulations for fights stopped due to accidental injury after a certain number of rounds, the contest went to the judges’ scorecards. The result was a split technical draw, with one judge scoring it 58-57 for Whittaker, another 58-57 for Cameron, and the third scoring it 58-58.
The controversial ending led to significant backlash, particularly from Cameron’s camp. Liam Cameron publicly accused Whittaker of “not fancying it” and seeking a way out of the fight, a sentiment echoed by boxing legend Tony Bellew. This incident quickly earned Whittaker the derisive nickname “Ben Quittaker” among some fans and critics.
Whittaker vs Cameron Rocked by Controversial Rule Change
Following the contentious first bout, a rematch was swiftly arranged for Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England. However, the buildup to this highly anticipated rematch was marred by further controversy regarding the fight’s terms.
During an appearance on talkSPORT, Cameron alleged that efforts were being made to change their bout from a 12-round fight to a 10-rounder:
“There is a mess about with the contracts that nobody is letting me speak about, so I’m going to try on here,”
“We have signed for a 12-round fight, and they are trying to push it for a 10-rounder, doing everything that they can, and I’m not budging. I’m having a 12-round fight.”
Cameron also claimed he was prevented from discussing the matter on Gloves Are Off, saying, “I tried to do it on Gloves Are Off, and they wouldn’t let me speak about it.”
Cameron, who ran a very close fight with Lyndon Arthur in June 2024, losing by split decision, believes this highlights the confidence levels of Whittaker’s team. He suggested that promoter Ben Shalom and co do not believe Whittaker can last a 12-round distance. Promoter Frank Warren had reportedly insisted that Cameron would not sway from the original contract: “He is saying that we are not budging no matter what,” Cameron added. Warren signed Cameron after his first fight with Whittaker, now trained by Andy Lee.
Despite Cameron’s public stance, the rematch was ultimately contested over 10 rounds in the light-heavyweight division, as confirmed by the weigh-in results. This suggests that the efforts to shorten the fight were successful, or an agreement was reached prior to the event.
The Easter Sunday Showdown: Aftermath and Outcome
The highly anticipated rematch between Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron took place as scheduled on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. The fight, held at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, saw a decisive victory for Ben Whittaker, who defeated Liam Cameron by technical knockout in the second round.
Whittaker, known as ‘The Surgeon’, started the fight by controlling the ring, utilizing his jab and reach to keep Cameron at bay in the first round. In the second round, Cameron attempted to apply pressure, but Whittaker responded with a powerful right overhand that visibly wobbled Cameron. He then followed up with a barrage of punches along the ropes, prompting referee Howard Foster to step in and wave off the fight at 1:53 of the round.
The stoppage, however, was not without controversy. Some observers, including boxing news outlets, suggested that Foster’s intervention was premature, arguing that many of Whittaker’s follow-up punches landed on Cameron’s gloves while he was covering up. Cameron himself appeared surprised by the stoppage. Following his victory, Whittaker celebrated intensely, reportedly taunting Cameron’s corner, an act that was criticized as “classless” by some commentators. Whittaker later denied intentionally spitting at Cameron’s team, attributing his reaction to the continuous criticism he had faced since their first encounter.
Implications for the Light-Heavyweight Division
The outcome of the rematch had significant implications for both fighters’ careers. For Ben Whittaker, the TKO victory improved his professional record to 9-0-1 (6 KOs) at the time and served as a crucial statement win, silencing some of the “Quittaker” criticisms. Whittaker continued his impressive run, signing a long-term contract with Matchroom Boxing in October 2025. He went on to win the vacant WBC Silver light-heavyweight title by stopping Benjamin Gavazi in the first round on November 29, 2025, and secured another first-round knockout against Braian Nahuel Suarez on April 18,
