Ben Whittaker delivers emotional message to critics after beating Liam Cameron

The Darlaston light-heavyweight, who initially displayed anger and drew criticism when he screamed in the face of his opponent’s coach Grant Smith moments after the bout was halted in the second round, then sobbed in his corner and again broke down in the post-fight press conference when reflecting on a tumultuous six months since first facing Cameron in Saudi Arabia.

Whittaker received a barrage of online flak and claims he had taken the easy way out when the pair both fell over the top rope at the end of the fifth round. Many observers felt the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist fortunate to escape the Middle East with a draw.

On Sunday a rejuvenated Whittaker, now trained in Ireland by Andy Lee, got his career back on track and handed Cameron a first stoppage loss in front of a packed BP Pulse Live in Birmingham. Villa stars Jacob Ramsey and Marcus Rashford were among those watching from ringside.

Later Whittaker, who entered the ring knowing his career and reputation were on the line, claimed “close friends” and “people he classed as family” had disappeared since the first fight and he delivered the firm message: “Those who picked that side. Stay on that side.”

Whittaker, who was booed into the arena by a significant portion of the crowd, broke down when trainer Lee described him as a “great man”.

The fighter, after composing himself, said: “Truthfully, nothing has changed. I knew I should be doing that to people like Liam Cameron, no disrespect.

“It is the little things…my brother had two daughters and couldn’t really enjoy it too much because of what I was going through online.

“It didn’t really bother me but close friends, people I classed as family, left me. They had a lot to say about me.

“But it was a great time to go back to the old Ben Whittaker. Before the Olympics I locked in and trained hard. I dedicated myself to the sport.

“Those six months really humbled me, got me closer to God. The small people I had around me was just what I needed. I went to the gym daily, took away the cameras, took away the social media and just got back to the old Ben.”

The extraordinary finish to the first fight had captured the public imagination, yet while Whittaker was back fighting just a few miles from home, it became clear from the ring walks many in the sold-out crowd had purchased tickets hoping to see him lose.

Whittaker, who explained how rediscovering Christianity had helped him through the toughest times in recent months, arrived accompanied by the Sheffield Community Choir. Yet there were just as many jeers as cheers and it was Sheffield’s own Cameron, who walked out to UB40, who got the better reception.

There was only one winner when the fight began and while some felt the stoppage, after a right cross had rocked Cameron and put him in trouble on the ropes, was slightly premature, there were few complaints from the beaten fighter’s corner.

They took far bigger issue with Whittaker’s immediate reaction. Smith waved a hand toward the face of the victorious man after he stuck his head through the ropes and screamed down. Whittaker even had to address the claim, later confirmed as false by Smith, he had spat at Cameron’s team.

Even so, the incident soured the victory and will have done little to win round those boxing fans who already see Whittaker as the “bad guy”.

The 27-year-old said: “You heard everyone booing me, they are portraying me as the bad guy.

“I work hard. I was roaring like a lion. At the end of the day, Jesus is king and he’s the one who put the spirit in me to perform like that tonight.”