Ben Whittaker denied spitting at Liam Cameron’s corner after producing a devastating second-round attack to end their IBF International light-heavyweight title grudge rematch.
Whittaker rocked Cameron with a big right hand at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, and his follow-up flurry swiftly ended the contest with the Sheffield fighter on shaky legs.
Olympic silver medallist Whittaker, from West Bromwich, then went across the ring and poked his head through the ropes to celebrate in the face of Cameron’s cornermen. Denying that he had spat in the corner, Whittaker told Sky Sports: “You heard everybody boo me, they portray me as a bad guy.
“But I work very hard and my emotions came out – and I was roaring like a lion. If a little bit of dribble came out a bit of dribble came out.”
Whittaker’s trainer Andy Lee said: “The barrage of insults he’s had to put up since the the first fight with Cameron… not many people could put up with what he’s gone through. His emotions are bound to get carried away. He is an emotional guy and he did lose control, but this is a champion.”
Dave Coldwell on Sky Sports commentary called the incident: “Classless.”
Johnny Nelson jumped to his defence on Sky’s broadcast. He stated: “It was emotion coming out. Frustration. Because of what he’s gone through, he’s been vilified.
“It’s him saying ‘I’m not washed up, everything you’ve said about me is complete rubbish’. It’s human emotion.”
The first fight ended in bizarre circumstances last October when both men fell over the ropes and Whittaker was unable to continue because of an injury.
The judges scored a split-decision draw, but Whittaker left the arena in a wheelchair before the results were read out and there was plenty of bad blood between the two fighters before their rematch.
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