{"id":762373,"date":"2026-06-26T21:25:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T21:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/762373\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T21:25:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T21:25:15","slug":"banking-on-ben-and-spinach-rich","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/762373\/","title":{"rendered":"Banking on Ben and \u201cSpinach\u201d Rich\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Banking on Ben and \u201cSpinach\u201d Rich\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oh what a night plus an extraordinary fight in the light heavyweight division as undefeated British prospect Ben Whittaker, WBC Silver Light Heavyweight Champion, and American Richard Rivera got irked at a pressing engagement, ahead of their clash at Brooklyn\u2019s iconic Barclays Center.<\/p>\n

Handsome Ben, known for his flamboyant showman style inside and outside the ring, will make his highly anticipated debut splash on American soil and he wasted no time eliciting some cutting yet\u00a0 modest intentions:<\/p>\n

\u201cOn Saturday, we are going to chop him to pieces,\u201d the Brit declared. \u201cI\u2019m taller, I\u2019m faster, I have a better IQ, and I\u2019m probably better looking too. It\u2019s going to be a surgical beating; if he comes forward, I\u2019m going to catch him, and if he moves back, I\u2019m going to dismantle him as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahoy! In the opposite corner, Richard Rivera arrives with the underdog label, but with ironclad anchored confidence. True to his theatrical style, Rivera has adopted his \u201cPopeye the Sailor\u201d persona throughout the week and is determined to sink Ben, by making him walk the plank.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been doing this my whole life, and it\u2019s about time all that hard work pays off,\u201d Rivera earnestly stated. When questioned about his strategy and tactics, he came and went straight to the point: \u201cPlan A is to knock him out. Plan B is simply to give him a beating.\u201d Ouch!<\/p>\n

This clash of contrasting styles and flattening\u00a0 egos, will be part of the flattering undercard supporting the explosive bout between Xander Zayas and Jaron \u201cBoots\u201d Ennis. While Whittaker looks to consolidate his image as one of boxing\u2019s great global prospects, Rivera knows that a victory would completely change the course of his career at 175 pounds.<\/p>\n

The table is set in Brooklyn: a charismatic undefeated cheeky chappie against an irritable sailor challenger. Will wit and percussion\u00a0 be able to deliver on his surgical promise, or will Popeye deliver an eye popping performance?<\/p>\n

Ben Whittaker weighed in at 174.4 pounds, while Richard Rivera came in at 173.8 pounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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