Ben Whittaker's opponent makes feelings clear after controversial ending to fight

Liam Cameron was left furious when Ben Whittaker's injury saw their fight for the IBF International light heavyweight belt go to the scorecards and a split-decision technical draw awarded

By: irishmirror.ie

Oct 12 2024
29
3475 Views

Ben Whittaker's opponent makes

Liam Cameron believes that Ben Whittaker looked for a way out of their fight after his injury saw an early end to the bout.

The duo saw the contest go to the scorecards after both fighters toppled over the ropes at the end of the fifth round. The fall left Whittaker sprawled on the floor, while Cameron went back to the corner for the sixty-second break between rounds.

The Olympic silver medalist was unable to rise and was attended to by his team and medics as the start of the sixth round was called. Cameron believed he had won as a result but the judges were called upon after a ruling of accidental injury.

A split-decision technical draw was awarded with cards of 58-57, 57-58 and 58-58 collected. Whittaker saw his unblemished record fall to 8-0-1 and was taken straight from the arena to hospital.

And the unfancied Cameron, 33, was left frustrated he was not awarded the victory. The Yorkshireman was left visibly angry in the ring in Riyadh.

Speaking on DAZN after the fight, he said: "He [Whittaker] didn't want no more. He were very tired. He give me his last 30 seconds. He had nothing left. Kid was knackered from round two.

"But look, I definitely beat him. I don't get a fair share. I got a split decision lost in the last fight. I just had a draw this one. What more do I have to do? I've never had a promotional deal in my life, and I tried to do best today to get that win, and I thought I fully deserved it.

Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron fell over the top rope at the end of the fifth round

"Yeah [Whittaker wanted a way out], you could see it on camera. I don't want to be critical to him, because no one gave me a chance. No one. It wasn't the Liam Cameron show, I didn't have no cameras on me, following me, just my small team."

The event later saw Chris Eubank Jr defeat Kamil Szeremeta with a seventh-round stoppage. Rival, Conor Benn stormed the ring before the result was even announced.

Security intervened to calm the situation as the pair exchanged verbal blows in unsavoury scenes in Saudi Arabia. Security were forced to step in a second time as the pair went head-to-head again following confirmation of Eubank's result on the night.