In an unexpected incident at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, British boxer Ben Whittaker found himself at the center of controversy after reportedly smashing a fan’s phone.
This event unfolded just hours after his tense boxing match against Liam Cameron, where emotions were running high.
A Chaotic Fight Night
Whittaker, 27, had a tumultuous evening during his fight, which took place at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The match ended in a controversial technical split-decision draw after Whittaker suffered a leg injury, caused by him tumbling over the ropes in the fifth round.
He was unable to continue, leading to a frustrating exit.
After the fight, Whittaker was taken back to his dressing room in a wheelchair, where he vented his frustration by punching a hole in the wall.
His opponent, Cameron, accused him of looking for an excuse to quit, claiming he had evidence from the fight footage.
The Tense Airport Encounter
With his ankle bandaged, Whittaker was seen navigating through the airport’s duty-free section shortly after midnight.
As he made his way through, a fan approached him, eager to snap a photo.
Witnesses reported that Whittaker, visibly annoyed, exclaimed, “Don’t take any photos of me!” before grabbing the fan’s phone and smashing it on the ground.
A fellow traveler who was also on the same Saudi Airlines flight to Heathrow described the scene to The Sun.
They recalled, “I saw Ben Whittaker coming through security when a fan wearing a boxing T-shirt tried to take a picture. Ben snatched the phone from him and smashed it.”
Tensions escalated as Whittaker appeared ready to throw a punch, prompting his team to intervene.
Resolution Over Coffee
As the situation heated up, airport security stepped in and detained both men.
Initially, they had their passports taken, but they later exchanged contact details.
They were escorted to a nearby coffee shop, where they surprisingly ended up sitting at the same table.
Whittaker reportedly offered to pay for the damaged phone.
Reflecting on the incident, Whittaker expressed his regret: “This was a really unfortunate event, and I’m thankful to the gentleman for sitting down to discuss it right after and accepting my apology.”
He added that he couldn’t comment further on the alleged video recording of the incident, as he hadn’t seen it.
Nevertheless, he assured the fan that they were in touch about replacing the phone and invited him to a future event as a guest.
Aftermath of the Fight
Despite the chaotic incident at the airport, the fight itself was regulated by the British Boxing Board of Control.
Their rules state that if a bout is halted due to an accidental injury, the judges must score the match.
In this case, Whittaker and Cameron received scores of 58-57 from two judges, while a third judge scored it a 58-58 draw, leading to the split-decision technical draw.
Cameron’s frustration was evident when the scorecards were revealed, adding another layer of drama to an already eventful night.
Mine Crypto. Earn $GOATS while it is free! Click Here!!