Is Ben Whittaker related to Robert Whittaker? A look into the boxer's combat sports ties

Ben Whittaker and Robert Whittaker are both considered to be skilled fighters in their respective combat sports. Ben is an accomplished boxer, while Robert is forging a legacy as an elite MMA fighter. Given the similarity in their respective surnames, some fight fans have speculated about whether the two combatants are related.

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Is Ben Whittaker related to Robert Whittaker?

It appears that boxer Ben Whittaker is not related to UFC star Robert Whittaker. Neither of the two high-profile fighters have publicly claimed to be related. Speaking to Principle Magazine in 2023, Ben asserted that he was born in West Bromwich. He noted that all of his family resides in Wolverhampton, adding that they live in Darlaston, a town between West Bromwich and Wolverhampton.

Ben represented England in the amateur boxing realm, bagging the silver medal in the light heavyweight division at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Meanwhile, Robert is a New Zealand-born Australian MMA fighter. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and is a longtime representative of both the Aussie and Kiwi cultures. 'The Reaper' notably competed in the amateur wrestling dominion in Australia. He qualified to represent the nation at the Commonwealth Games in 2018, but later withdrew because it interfered with his UFC obligations. He is a former UFC middleweight champion.

Meanwhile, Ben Whittaker made his professional boxing debut in 2022, guided by the world-renowned Kronk Gym's SugarHill Steward, who's trained several other elite pugilists including former unified heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

Whittaker spoke to Boxing News Magazine and implied he'd parted ways with Steward. 'The Surgeon' indicated that it was an amicable split, citing that Steward constantly traveled the world with Fury, whereas he found the excessive globetrotting unfeasible.

The 27-year-old retained his longtime trainer, Wolverhampton's Joby Clayton, who's coached him since the amateurs. Whittaker further implied that he was also visiting various gyms in his native, U.K. Furthermore, Whittaker signaled that he was still in touch with the Kronk Gym and Steward. He recently trained at the Gleason's Gym in New York.

Ben Whittaker is promoted by BOXXER, a professional boxing promotion founded by Ben Shalom in 2018. Shalom has consistently maintained that Whittaker is the next big superstar in boxing. For his part, 'The Surgeon' has established himself as a prominent star in the BOXXER promotional stable.

Presently, Ben boasts a professional boxing record of eight victories and zero defeats, with five of his wins coming via KO/TKO. He has garnered praise for his showboating and exceptional pugilistic prowess.