Charles ‘Killa’ Whittaker did not get the result he wanted in the biggest contest of his long career, but even in defeat he impressed enough to prove that at 38 it is not yet time to hang up his gloves.
Whittaker, 38, was stopped in ten rounds by Gabriel Rosado in an International Boxing Federation junior-middleweight world title eliminator in the American’s hometown of Bethelem, Pennsylvania last Friday.
But the tenacious Cayman Islands veteran showed incredible resilience and courage against a fighter 12 years younger who had every advantage, including total partisan support in the 2,000 capacity Sands Casino Resort, weeks of top class sparring and far more money than the $6,000 Whittaker received.
Killa was knocked down four times before it was stopped but he hurt Rosado a few times and had the West Bay fighter been better prepared with fewer distractions, might have pulled off an upset. He was only a loser in result though. Many are still applauding his bravery and tactical awareness which caused Rosado problems.
At the Owen Roberts International Airport on Saturday night, Whittaker was welcomed home to a fully deserved hero’s welcome. The Cayman Islands Amateur Boxing Association members came out in numbers and many in the sports community turned up, including boxers Kendall Ebanks and Tafari Ebanks.
A special hug was reserved for Killa’s mum, Beulah McField, who met him at the airport’s VIP room.
“It was a good fight but the result wasn’t what we wanted,” Whittaker said. “The response I’ve got from the worldwide public, all the messages, people on Facebook and people I haven’t heard from in years, has been great.
“I wish I had got the result that I wanted but these were the circumstances. It was an entertaining fight. At the end of the day, you’re a fighter and you watch these fights on TV, like Hagler-Hearns, where one guy gets knocked down hard and he keeps getting up and fighting hard, comes back and hurts the other guy and just keeps fighting harder.
“That’s what it’s all about and this fight will soon be forgotten. Right now the boxing world is buzzing about this fight. NBC Sports is excited about it and I’m looking forward to being able to get back in the ring. I know some good things are going to come out of this.”
So any notion of retiring after 19 years of often fighting in opponents’ hometowns and getting unfair decisions, is not an option. He still has the burning desire to be world champion.
“I’m going to fight on. This is what I do, I love it and can do it very well. The main thing I want Caymanians to get out of this is that even though I didn’t get the desired result, we don’t have to be the ones watching the show. We can be the reason for the show.
“If we believe in ourselves, work hard and give God the glory, because without him nothing is possible, we can succeed. That’s my message to let our people know, that we can achieve big things. We have people here who are capable and skilled, ambitious, hard-working, courageous and tenacious.
“We don’t give in when the going gets tough and the tough get going. That’s why I went to Rosado’s hometown. My saying has always been that if the world won’t come to me I’ll go to the world.”
Whittaker’s left hook was his most potent weapon and at the end of the fifth round he hurt Rosado but the youngster was able to recover in the break.
Killa said: “He was a young, strong kid. He went back to his corner and recovered good. I stung him a few more times, he told me that. I was never really hurt in any of the knockdowns. Three of the four knockdowns it was more out of frustration. I just couldn’t get my punches off as I wanted to. Despite everyone saying it was a great fight it wasn’t me at my maximum.
“I couldn’t get into the flow and the truth of the matter is he had seven weeks of sparring with six or seven different partners, I only had two weeks of sparring. I didn’t have the money to get the training I needed. That’s what showed up in the fight.”
So who does Whittaker see winning if Rosado gets a world title shot against IBF champion Cornelius ‘K9’ Bundrage?
“Rosado is young and strong but Bundrage, I understand, is an extremely strong guy too. I’ve heard that light-heavyweights have sparred with Bundrage and they say no one man should be that strong.
“The thing is, I hit and move. Bundrage comes right at you. It would be pretty much a collision course. Rosado is strong but he’s not a tremendously great puncher, although he can get your attention.
“But he’s not a debilitating puncher like Felix Trinidad. He can knock you off your feet so it will be an interesting fight.”
Whittaker’s trainer Stormin’ Norman Wilson said: “Charles came out with a little credit but we could have had a lot more credit. You’ve got to give us some credit because we only had two weeks training and Rosado had three months. It’s a big difference when preparing for a fight. There are different phases. You can’t just jump up and say you’re ready to fight after one week. Those guys have three months to prepare.
“Even NBC network have requested to take Charles and work with him. I know Rosado’s promoter didn’t like what NBC said. All we have to do is get Charles another win and after that we could lobby for the world title without having to fight an eliminator.
“We could actually lobby for the world title and bring it here to the Cayman Islands. It’s the next thing that I can see but it’s based on what the Islands want to do.”
At the Owen Roberts International Airport on Saturday night, Whittaker was welcomed home to a fully deserved hero’s welcome.
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I must have been watching the wrong chanel on Friday. The fight I saw was a washed up old man struggling to handle the pace and skill of a younger and hungrier oponent.
I wish that these comments would be edited before they are published, such hurtful words!!
@SoulRebel…I don’t know you and I really don’t want to…
Why are you to negative?
Why are you so bitter towards Charles?
Are you one of these same residents that had so much negativity to say about our athletes who went to the recent Olympics?
If you are then I would think it’s time that you pack your bag and go back to your mother country, we don’t need this likes of you here, and we don’t need this type of feedback for our youth, and those that have interest in boxing.
CHARLES IS OUR CHAMP…WE ARE PROUD OF YOUR accomplishments, at least you have some.
You’ve got to give us some credit because we only had two weeks training and Rosado had three months. It’s a big difference when preparing for a fight. There are different phases. You can’t just jump up and say you’re ready to fight after one week. Those guys have three months to prepare.
Why did Charles only train for two weeks? Didn’t Charles know for more than three months that he was going to get the fight? Does Charles have any responsibilities for the 100K that he receives from the Nation Building Fund other than training to fight?
Oops, I forgot that he was busy making commercials against OMOV.