Whittaker fight ends in draw after boxers fall over ropes
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Ben Whittaker turned pro after winning silver at the Tokyo Olympics
- Published
A light-heavyweight bout between Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron in Saudi Arabia ended in the most bizarre draw after both men fell out of the ring.
Olympian Whittaker suffered an injury from the incident and left the arena in a wheelchair before the scorecards were read out.
Whittaker was backed up on to the ropes in the fifth round but also seemed to pull Cameron towards him as the pair locked arms and tumbled over the ropes.
With Whittaker laying on the canvas in agony, doctors attended to his ankle while the 27-year-old also appeared to complain about a back injury.
The event in Riyadh is being governed under the jurisdiction of the British Boxing Board of Control, which rule a fight stopped because of an accidental injury must go to the judges' scorecards.
Whittaker and Cameron, 33, were each awarded a 58-57 score, with a third ruling it 58-58 draw, resulting in a split-decision technical draw.
Cameron was the only fighter in the ring when the scorecards were read out and was visibly frustrated as it emerged it would be a close decision.
"He [Whittaker] had nothing left. Kid was knackered from round two. I definitely beat him. I don't get a fair share [in fights]. What more do I have to do?" Cameron said afterwards.
"Never had a promotional deal in my life and I tried my best to win that today and I think I deserved the win."
Asked if he felt Whittaker was looking for a "way out" of the fight, Cameron said: "Yeah. 100%. You can see it on camera. I don't want to be critical of him."
Whittaker was treated at the medical tent inside Kingdom Arena for an injury to his right leg and then taken to hospital for further evaluation.
- Published12 October 2024
Whittaker v Cameron in pictures
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Whittaker was struggling to gain control against Cameron
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Whittaker and Cameron both went over the ropes
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The referee tried to break the fall of Whittaker and Cameron when they went over
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Whittaker was visibly hurt after getting tangled with Cameron
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Whittaker appeared to hurt his back
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Doctors attended to Whittaker in the corner
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Cameron was left alone in the ring to hear the scorecards
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