“What we’re seeing now, and what we’ve seen these last three fights now, three fights under Andy Lee, is power,” Oladipo said on his channel, reacting to Whittaker’s win over Suarez.
“We’re seeing a guy that is sitting on his shots and really delivering, and now it’s three knockouts.”
He also praised Whittaker’s speed and overall athletic ability, saying the 2020 Olympic silver medalist operates above this level of opponent.
“He has so much speed. So much speed. That was apparent yesterday against Suarez. Like he’s just too fast.”
“I’m not talking just fast hands. I’m talking fast feet. His lateral body movement, his speed of everything, speed of thought, just way above.”
Oladipo also said Whittaker’s amateur pedigree should still count as he moves deeper into the professional ranks.
“He can box. His amateur accolades tell me that. He’s an Olympic silver medalist. They don’t just give out those medals for free.”
The fans are critical of Ade’s praise for the 28-year-old Whittaker, noting that he’s being matched exclusively against poor opposition. They feel that the mismatch between Whittaker’s hype and his actual resume is becoming a glaring issue, especially as he approaches 30.
While Ade Oladipo is busy selling the evolution under Andy Lee, the reality is that Whittaker is 11-0-1 (after the Suarez KO) and still fighting guys brought in specifically to lose.
Braian Nahuel Suarez was marketed as a “dangerous” puncher, but he was a massive underdog (+900) for a reason.
At 28 years old, turning 29 soon, Whittaker isn’t a prospect in the traditional sense. Most Olympic silver medalists with 50+ amateur fights are expected to be fighting for world titles by their 10th or 12th pro bout.
If Whittaker is only getting one round of work against limited opposition, he isn’t actually learning how to handle the elite pace or power of the light heavyweight division’s top tier.
Promoter Eddie Hearn seems to be using the Conor Benn model: keep the fighter active and looking spectacular against mid-level opposition while waiting for the old guard, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, to retire or vacate.
The fans’ roasting of Oladipo is a reaction to the forced narrative. If Whittaker is as elite as Oladipo claims, there is no reason he shouldn’t be in with David Morrell and Willy Hutchinson right now.
Taking an American debut on an undercard, as Hearn has suggested, is just more treading water. Until he’s forced to fight a live dog who can actually take a punch and fire back, the “The Surgeon” nickname is going to feel more like a marketing gimmick than a professional reality.
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