Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn has firmly ruled out a potential clash between Ben Whittaker and David Morrell, stating that the matchup comes “too early” for the British prospect.
“Ben’s not ready for that fight yet. There’s nothing wrong with that,” Hearn told media, emphasizing that Whittaker’s path will continue to follow a structured and measured progression.
Hearn went further by placing Morrell among the established elite at light heavyweight, well ahead of where Whittaker currently operates. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist (10-0-1, 7 KOs) has yet to compete in a 12-round contest, a key milestone his team wants to reach before stepping into top-tier opposition.
“We’re not fighting at that level yet. Whittaker needs three or four fights before we’re fighting at that level,” Hearn added.
Whittaker is scheduled to headline on April 18 in Liverpool against Argentina’s Braian Nahuel Suarez (21-4, 20 KOs) in a 10 round bout, live on DAZN. He was elevated to the main event following the withdrawal of Callum Smith, who was originally set to face Morrell but pulled out due to injury.
The cancellation of that fight opened the door for a late replacement, prompting Morrell to publicly call out Whittaker on social media:
“Ben Whittaker, I’m ready to fight April 18th. How are you older than me and still a prospect? Let’s give the fans the fight they want to see!”
Despite the challenge, Hearn made it clear there was no room to alter plans. Whittaker had already committed to facing Suarez following a short training camp, effectively ruling out any late switch to an opponent of Morrell’s caliber.
Looking ahead, Whittaker is expected to return on June 27 against a yet to be confirmed U.S. opponent. Hearn indicated that a domestic level step up could follow, potentially against contenders such as Anthony Yarde or Lyndon Arthur, before targeting a world title opportunity.
Fan reaction to the current trajectory has been largely negative, with criticism aimed at both the level of opposition and the pace of Whittaker’s development. The British fighter turns 29 on June 6, adding scrutiny to the timeline for his eventual move into elite competition.
For now the message from his team is clear: no shortcuts. Meanwhile, Morrell remains without a confirmed date following the cancellation of his bout, eager to capitalize on his training camp and secure a meaningful fight.