Promoter Eddie Hearn reacted angrily to questions about Ben Whittaker’s matchmaking following a second-round knockout of Richard Rivera in Brooklyn. Hearn dismissed calls for a dramatic step up, insisting his team will manage the 29-year-old light heavyweight’s progression toward a world title shot.
Whittaker, a decorated Olympic silver medalist, extended his unbeaten professional record to 13-0 with the victory in his U.S. debut. The performance against Rivera, who had been inactive for over a year, immediately fueled debate about the quality of his opposition. When a reporter asked if Whittaker’s next opponent would be a significant challenge, Hearn confronted the premise of the question. He stated: “You try and ask challenging questions, but they’re f***ing questions,”.
Hearn argued that the process is about incremental steps, not dangerous leaps.
“The next fight will be another step up, like tonight was a step up. What you do is you keep stepping up, and you keep producing the performances, and you keep going through the levels.” When pressed again on the matter, Hearn became more direct, making it clear that media opinion would not influence his strategy. “It will be a step up, and it will be the step up that him, me and the team think is appropriate for the timing of his career,**and it will have absolutely nothing to do with you.”
The exchange itself became the focus because the questions are standard for a rising contender. With Whittaker already 29, there is growing pressure to test him against world-level competition. The current strategy of showcasing his speed and power against manageable opponents is drawing criticism from fans who want to see him face a legitimate threat. Hearn later clarified the path forward, ruling out a fight with Craig Richards but naming domestic rivals Anthony Yarde and Willie Hutchinson as possibilities. He confirmed the goal is a world title shot, but maintained that a jump straight to champions like Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol would be premature.
