Ben Whittaker's US dream: Mayweather and Chris Rock paved the way
Ben Whittaker makes his U.S. debut against Richard Rivera in Brooklyn on June 27, chasing an American dream shaped by childhood Floyd Mayweather fights and Chris Rock's sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. The unbeaten light-heavyweight starts in New York and aims to finish in Las Vegas while Eddie Hearn maps a path to domestic blockbusters and world-title shots. Whittaker's Barclays Center appearance caps a global push that could soon point toward Joshua Buatsi.
Key Takeaways
- Whittaker faces Rivera on the Xander Zayas vs Jaron Ennis DAZN PPV undercard, with ringwalks expected around 8:59 p.m. ET.
- Mayweather's Las Vegas showcases and Everybody Hates Chris shaped his Brooklyn-to-Vegas ambition.
- He ranks second or third with the WBC and told Sky Sports a Joshua Buatsi fight could be close after Saturday.
- Eddie Hearn plans an October UK headline bout before Whittaker is ready for elite 175lb champions.
- Whittaker believes U.S. fans embrace his showmanship more than many UK audiences.
Why did Mayweather and Chris Rock fuel Whittaker's American dream?
Ben Whittaker told BBC Sport his love of America grew from two childhood rituals: waking early to watch Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and bingeing Everybody Hates Chris, Chris Rock's semi-autobiographical sitcom set in Brooklyn.
The Darlaston-born Olympian recalled Mayweather vs Oscar De La Hoya in 2007 and the Ricky Hatton fight as sparks. "I was like, 'Man, this looks crazy. I want to be involved in something like that'," he said. "I call it baby steps. You start in New York, finish in Vegas."
He has visited New York five or six times and says the city connects through music and fashion as much as boxing. His flamboyant style divides UK fans, but he argues Americans want pure boxing, entertainment, and a real fight—and he can deliver all three.
What happens when Ben Whittaker fights Richard Rivera in Brooklyn?
Whittaker, 29 and 11-0-1 with eight knockouts, meets Richard Rivera on Saturday on the undercard of Zayas' WBA and WBO super-welterweight title defence against Ennis at Barclays Center. DAZN lists broadcast coverage from 8:30 p.m. ET, with Whittaker's ringwalk expected around 8:59 p.m. ET (1:59 a.m. BST Sunday).
Rivera arrives 27-2 with 20 KOs but has not fought for major titles. Whittaker enters off three straight stoppages and calls each outing a step toward the rankings where he already sits second or third with the IBF and WBC. For broader coverage of how global platforms reshape sports storytelling, see Future Tech & AI Wonders.
Could a Joshua Buatsi fight follow Whittaker's New York debut?
After Brooklyn, attention turns domestic. Whittaker told Sky Sports he and fellow Englishman Joshua Buatsi are "kind of close," citing their No. 2 and No. 3 WBC rankings. Willy Hutchinson, whom he beat as an amateur, is also in the mix.
Eddie Hearn believes Whittaker is roughly three fights from challenging elite light-heavyweight champions such as Dmitry Bivol. His roadmap: Saturday in New York, an October UK headline against a big domestic name, one more bout, then readiness for anyone in the division. Whittaker also eyes David Benavidez—now at cruiserweight—as a lucrative future target.
When should fans tune in for Whittaker vs Rivera?
The full Zayas-Ennis card streams on DAZN Pay-Per-View from Barclays Center. Whittaker-Rivera is scheduled before Emiliano Vargas vs Bryce Mills and the main event, with Zayas and Ennis expected around 10:47 p.m. ET. UK viewers should plan for the early hours of Sunday, June 28, as undercard timing can shift.