LIAM CAMERON has warned Ben Whittaker he’ll have to “RETIRE” if he ducks a rematch with him.
The former Commonwealth middleweight champ gave the undefeated Olympian the stiffest test of his career last weekend before a freak fifth-round tumble over the ropes saw their clash end in a draw.
REUTERSLiam Cameron gave Ben Whittaker the stiffest test of his career last weekend[/caption]
GETTYThe fight ended in the fifth round after both fighters tumbled over the ropes[/caption]
GETTYCameron insists Whittaker has no choice but to give him an immediate rematch[/caption]
Whittaker, 26, was taken out of the arena in a wheelchair after claiming to have been injured in the WWE-esque top-rope tumble.
But Cameron and his team have questioned the validity of Whittaker’s alleged injury, especially after hearing that he’d punched a wall backstage.
And the Sheffield slugger believes the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist is now at a major career crossroads.
The 33-year-old said: “To be fair, he shouldn’t take it because it’s going to end his career. But, he’s got to take it.
“Honestly, he’s in a no-win situation. Because if he doesn’t take the rematch, he has to retire.
“If he does take the rematch his career is over.
“If he were in control of the fight, he should take the rematch.
“If he doesn’t take the rematch it just shows he wasn’t in control of the fight and he is worried and wants a way out.”
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REUTERSLiam Cameron reckons Ben Whittaker deliberately pulled him over the ropes[/caption]
There was no trademark showboating from Whittaker as he did his best to avoid the heavy leather being thrown from Cameron.
“No one gives me enough credit,” he said. “I made him not showboat and I made him tired.
“That’s my game plan and he walked straight into it.”
Whittaker has not publicly addressed his injury, although his team have come out and claimed he suffered a sprained ankle.
But Cameron isn’t buying what his rival and his team are selling, insisting: “He wasn’t injured.
“Real fighters carry on. We’ve seen wars over the years. I got up in the same situation as Ben.’
“Whittaker was 100 per cent looking for a way out. Everyone says it.
“He pulled me and grabbed me, sending us flying over the ropes.
“No one ever does that in boxing.”
GETTYLiam Cameron believes Ben Whittaker took an easy way out of their Saudi showdown[/caption]
A crestfallen Cameron continued: “I thought I won the fight. I felt like I was robbed.
“Even when other people were tallying the scorecards, they thought I won too.
“There are only a few people from Wolverhampton that thought he won.
“It’s bad because I wanted those belts. But, it could have been even worse.
“They could have totally robbed me and not given me a decision at the end of the fight.
“I am just happy that situation wasn’t as bad as it could have been.”
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