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Whittaker Stops Cameron Again in Controversial Rematch Ending

The rematch between Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron ended in more controversy on Sunday, echoing the disputed finish of their first encounter.

Fighting at the BP Pulse LIVE Arena in Birmingham, Whittaker (9-0-1, 6 KOs) claimed another win over Cameron (23-7-1, 10 KOs), this time via second-round stoppage—but not without debate.

With just over a minute left in Round 2, Whittaker expertly slipped a slow jab from Cameron and fired back with a crisp right hand that staggered the veteran. Sensing an opening, Whittaker unleashed a follow-up flurry. Although most of the punches were absorbed by Cameron’s guard, a glancing right to the top of the head sent him reeling back onto the ropes.

That was enough for the referee, who jumped in and waved off the bout with about 80 seconds still remaining in the round.

Some spectators and pundits questioned the stoppage, noting that Cameron was still defending himself and appeared alert despite the knockdown.

The ending adds another layer to the budding rivalry between the two British fighters—and may open the door to a possible trilogy down the line.

Ben Whittaker’s rematch with Liam Cameron delivered another dramatic finish on Sunday, but it’s the nature of the stoppage—not the performance—that has fans talking.

The fight, held at BP Pulse LIVE Arena in Birmingham, ended in Round 2 when the referee stepped in following a flurry of punches from Whittaker (9-0-1, 6 KOs). The 26-year-old had rocked Cameron (23-7-1, 10 KOs) with a clean counter right hand after slipping a jab, then unloaded a series of shots that—while aggressive—were largely absorbed or deflected by Cameron’s high guard.

One partially landed right hand did send Cameron stumbling back into the ropes, which some argue should have been ruled a knockdown. If that call had been made, Cameron would have received a standing 10 count and possibly a chance to recover, rather than having the bout stopped outright. Instead, the referee waved off the contest with 1:20 remaining in the second round, prompting instant backlash from fans and pundits alike.

On social media, debate has flared over whether the stoppage was premature, with many pointing to the lack of clean follow-up shots after the initial blow. The referee’s decision, paired with the high stakes of the rivalry, has only added fuel to an already fiery narrative between the two British fighters.

Adding to the controversy, Whittaker celebrated his victory by sprinting across the ring and leaning through the ropes to taunt Cameron’s trainer, Grant Smith—father and coach of rising star Dalton Smith. The move sparked a heated reaction, with Smith attempting to slap Whittaker in response to what he saw as blatant disrespect.

Despite fighting near his hometown, Whittaker was met with a mixed reception from the Birmingham crowd. He was booed during his ring walk, again during the reading of the result, and throughout his post-fight interview.

Whether Whittaker’s win will stand as conclusive or merely stoke calls for a trilogy remains to be seen—but what’s certain is that the rivalry is far from over.

The long-anticipated rematch between Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron ended in even more controversy than their chaotic first encounter, as Whittaker secured a second-round stoppage on Sunday at the BP Pulse LIVE Arena in Birmingham, England.

Whittaker (9-0-1, 6 KOs) stunned Cameron (23-7-1, 10 KOs) with a sharp counter right hand midway through Round 2, then swarmed with a flurry of punches. While most of the follow-ups were blocked, Cameron was sent reeling into the ropes by a glancing right to the top of the head. The referee jumped in moments later, stopping the fight with just over 80 seconds remaining in the round.

The ending has sparked fierce debate, with critics pointing to the lack of clean, unanswered shots and arguing that the knockdown—if ruled as such—should have resulted in a 10-count rather than a stoppage. On social media, fans questioned the referee’s decision and reignited discussions about judging and officiating standards in high-stakes domestic matchups.

The tension spilled outside the ropes, too. Immediately after the stoppage, Whittaker provocatively celebrated in front of Cameron’s trainer, Grant Smith. The veteran coach, also the father of contender Dalton Smith, reacted angrily, appearing to attempt a slap in response to what he viewed as poor sportsmanship from the 2020 Olympic silver medalist.

This second bout follows their bizarre first fight last October on the Beterbiev vs. Bivol 1 undercard. That contest ended dramatically when both fighters tumbled over the ropes and out of the ring in Round 5. With Whittaker unable to continue, the bout was halted and went to the scorecards. The result: a split draw, with one judge scoring it for each man and the third seeing it even.

Sunday’s bout was meant to provide closure—but instead, it may have only deepened the rivalry.

Elsewhere on the Card

Heavyweight Frazer Clarke returned to form with an emphatic first-round knockout of Ebenezer Tetteh (23-3, 20 KOs), rebounding from his first career defeat earlier this year. Clarke improves to 9-1-1 (7 KOs) with the win.

Meanwhile, middleweight Tyler Denny (20-3-3, 1 KO) got back in the win column with a composed points victory over hard-hitting Ghanaian Elvis Ahorgah (13-4, 12 KOs), controlling the action throughout.

Stay tuned for complete Whittaker vs. Cameron 2 results, full fight highlights, and Uncrowned’s round-by-round coverage of the main card.