Liam Cameron claims ‘spoiled’ Ben Whittaker ‘pulled him over the ropes’, ‘faked his injury’ and looked for a ‘way out’…before stating the Sergeant must retire if he avoids a rematch!

Liam Cameron says Ben Whittaker must retire if he refused to take the rematch

Their bout on October 12 was stopped after Whittaker, 27, sustained an injury

Cameron says Whittaker pulled him over the ropes in the fifth round of their bout

Liam Cameron believes Ben Whittaker faces a no-win scenario: accepting a rematch could end his career, while refusing would force him into retirement, following the controversial circumstances that halted their first fight.

Their bout on October 12 was stopped after Whittaker sustained an injury when both fighters tumbled out of the ring in the fifth round, resulting in a technical split-decision draw.

The judges scored the fight 58-57 for Whittaker, 58-57 for Cameron, and 58-58 even – leaving Cameron visibly frustrated as Whittaker was taken back to the dressing room in a wheel chair.

Cameron – who signed for Queensberry Promotions after the bout – told Mail Sport he believed Whittaker was ‘faking’ the injury and looking for a way out due to exhaustion.

‘He was exhausted,’ Cameron started. ‘He was breathing so heavily. His fitness let him down, his conditioning team let him down. Obviously he trains with his brother who is an ex-royal marine. But, he wasn’t fit.

Liam Cameron believes Ben Whittaker faces a no-win scenario: accepting a rematch could end his career, while refusing would force him into retirement

Their bout on October 12 was stopped after Whittaker sustained an injury when both fighters tumbled out of the ring in the fifth round, resulting in a technical split-decision draw

Cameron claims Whittaker ‘pulled’ him over the ropes with 10 seconds left on the clock

‘It’s probably because I was also too strong for him. No one gives me enough credit. I made him not showboat and I made him tired. That’s my game plan and he walked straight into it.

Cameron also claimed that Whittaker intentionally pulled him out of the ring to ensure the contest was stopped. He said: ‘Whittaker was 100 per cent looking for a way out. Everyone says it. He pulled me and grabbed me, sending us flying over the ropes. No one ever does that in boxing.

‘I smashed my head on the floor, but I got up—he didn’t. You’ve got the likes of Frazer Clarke with a broken jaw showing some heart and walking out of the ring. Then you have Whittaker who sprained his toe and had to be carried out of the ring.’

Fans have questioned the severity of Whittaker’s injury after it was revealed he punched a wall backstage, and he was accused of smashing a fan’s phone at the airport.

When asked about these conspiracy theories, Cameron said: ‘He wasn’t injured. Real fighters carry on. We’ve seen wars over the years. I got up in the same situation as Ben.’

Cameron, frustrated not only by Whittaker’s withdrawal but by the judges’ scorecards, felt he had dominated the fight.

Whittaker controlled the early rounds, but Cameron’s pressure wore him down. By the fifth round, Whittaker appeared tense and fatigued, and Cameron landed significant blows, leading to the clinch that caused their fall from the ring.

Whittaker was complaining of severe pain in his foot. He was helped to his stool, where medics removed his boot and ultimately sent him for an x-ray

Whittaker was seen leaving the ring in a wheelchair and exited the venue fairly quickly

However, Whittaker managed to punch a hole in the ball backstage before leaving the venue

‘I thought I won the fight. I felt like I was robbed’, Cameron said. ‘Even when other people were tallying the scorecards, they thought I won too. There are only a few people from Wolverhampton that thought he won.

‘It’s bad because I wanted those belts. But, it could have been even worse. They could have totally robbed me and not given me a decision at the end of the fight. I am just happy that situation wasn’t as bad as it could have been.’

Despite the disappointment, Cameron saw a silver lining in the fact that Frank Warren signed him, a major milestone in his career.

‘I am a massive fan of Frank Warren’s. I have watched him since I was a little kid and watched what he has done for British boxing. Speaking to him at the press conference ahead of the fight, I said thank you for everything you have done for British boxing, you are the OG. He thanked me and shook my hand.

‘Lee told me backstage after the fight, you are signing with Frank Warren in the morning. I didn’t believe him to begin with. I thought no way, no way he wants to sign me, because I’ve never had the backing of anyone. For me, that was a win in and of itself.’

When asked whether negotiations were underway between his new promotional company and Boxxer over a potential rematch with Whittaker, Cameron said he wouldn’t be surprised if The Sergeant tried to avoid it.

Cameron was frustrated Whittaker could not continue and thought he took an easy way out

Despite the disappointment, Cameron saw a silver lining in the fact that Frank Warren signed him, a major milestone in his career

Cameron always looked up to Warren and thanked him for what he had done for British boxing

‘To be fair, he shouldn’t take it because it’s going to end his career. But, he’s got to take it. Honestly he’s in a no win situation. Because if he doesn’t take the rematch, he has to retire. If he does take the rematch his career is over.

‘If he were in control of the fight, he should take the rematch. If he doesn’t take the rematch it just shows he wasn’t in control of the fight and he is worried and wants a way out.’