Charles ‘The Killa’ Whittaker came through a potential dangerous bout with a landslide points victory to confirm he’s ready for a shot at a world title.
Whittaker could not afford to lose concentration |
Cayman’s favourite fighter has been itching to get a crack at a major world title since winning the WBO North American Boxing Organisation title in his last bout at the Lions Centre in April. Ranked No.13 in the WBO ratings, Friday night’s bout again at the Lions Centre was a tune up for a bigger match. He was also defending his junior-middleweight belt. Having lost only once in his last 12 contests, Whittaker feels he is now a worthy contender for any champion out there.
Whittaker, 33, felt confident he would smash Jose ‘Bam Bam’ Miguel Rodriguez Berrio aside in a few rounds but the Colombian proved to be a stronger, braver and more determined fighter than Killa expected.
Watched by another full house that included Tourism Minister Charles Clifford and Sports Minister Alden McLaughlin, the local champion did not disappoint.
West Bay’s favourite sportsman had the advantages in height and reach but must have gone into the ring with a sense of anti-climax as technically he would still be champion even if he was knocked out in the first round.
That’s because Berrio had weighed in 2lbs over the 154lbs junior-middleweight limit so forfeiting the right to be champ. Despite his 6ft 1in frame, Killa came in 2lbs inside the limit. There was still an edge to the bout because Berrio had emailed a short video of himself in the gym warning Whittaker what he was going to do to him in an attempt to unsettle the champ. Killa just laughed it off but could not have been impressed with the tacky gimmick.
Both fighters decided to go through with the bout anyway and although it was rarely thrilling, the contest was totally absorbing because Berrio, 32, never stopped trying, advancing throughout.
Four inches shorter and fleshy around the middle, Berrio had to get past Whittaker’s long jab as best he could. The first round was a cagey affair, with Whittaker edging it with his more accurate shots, Berrio holding his left hand low leaving himself open to a big right hand.
The second round’s highlight was a three round combination by the champ ending in a right hand that brought a huge cheer from the crowd.
The contest finally came to life in the third as Whittaker found his range. He caught Berrio flush with a left-right combination but didn’t trouble him. But a left hook at the end of the round evidently did.
The show was advertised as ‘Rampage’ and in the fourth round Whittaker had taken command and the bill lived momentarily up to its name. He dropped Berrio with a big right that brought a roar from the crowd who stood up in unison anticipating a knock out. Face impassive, Berrio got up quickly. Anticipating the inevitable onslaught, Bam Bam showed why he had lost only once in 22 previous contest by summoning up all his strength and reserves to fight back well. He even landed a big left hook, proving he was still dangerous.
By the fifth, Berrio had recovered well enough to land some big shots of his own. A left-right by Berrio caught Whittaker flush towards the end.
Killa landed a big left hook in the sixth that Berrio took well. Up to now, Whittaker was in total command, boxing well within himself, taking the smaller man’s shots comfortably.
Knowing he was well behind on points, Berrio began the seventh with renewed purpose. His attacks were reduced to wild swings though because Whittaker used his longer reach to perfection working always off the back foot as Berrio advanced constantly. He caught the champ in his corner for a while without really troubling him but the crowd, worried that Whittaker was no longer in control, started chanting: ‘Killa! Killa!’
To more chanting from the packed house, Whittaker continued to pick Berrio off in an exhibition of superb counter punching on the back foot in the eighth. Never flustered, despite the regular haymakers, he was in full control.
Knowing that by now he had to knock Killa out to win, Berrio started the ninth round fast again but Whittaker handled his lunges easily with clever footwork and precision counters. A left-right-left to the body combination hurt Berrio and a right to the back of his head buckled the challenger’s legs without him going down.
Whittaker was in total control in the tenth with fluid combinations until a desperate Berrio left hook caught him flush. It gave Berrio the impetus to press forward again. A left-right and another right snapped Berrio’s head back and for once he didn’t respond by steaming in.
Whittaker’s fluid movement was too clever for the more ponderous Colombian in the eleventh. Still hoping for a knock out victory, Bam Bam went on the rampage in the twelfth and last round. A big right by Berrio seemed to momentarily stun Killa but he boxed expertly and kept his anxious opponent at bay to confirm victory.
The unsurprising scores were from judges Dale Ramoon 120-107, Brendon Lyons 119-108 and Tommy Ebanks 120-107.
A jubilant Whittaker improved his record to 29-12-2 (17 KOs). He said: ‘We expected a tough fight. I gave the guy an opportunity and he was determined to win. Fighters are proud people and don’t give up easily, he had a lot of heart. He never hurt me.
‘When I knocked him down I knew he was going to get up because when the punch landed he was fighting to stay on his feet so I knew he wasn’t too badly hurt. I hurt my right hand in training several weeks ago and hurt it again tonight but I’m not using that as an excuse. He took some good shots but I was controlling the fight and the scores prove that.’
Whittaker’s co-trainer Norman Wilson said: ‘Berrio was basically just getting past the jab and trying to throw big shots. He got brave from the seventh on because he was behind.’
Co-trainer John David Jackson said: ‘We’re happy with the victory. The result could have been better with a knock out.’
A magnanimous Berrio said through his interpreter Nelson Lopez who is also his trainer and manager: ‘Whittaker is doing well at junior-middle, very active for a fighter, boxing every few months. Even though I hadn’t fought for three years I think I did well. I’m coming back to fight in Cayman only as a welterweight at 147lbs.’
The two professional undercard bouts involved all Florida based fighters. Colombian super-middle Nelson Manchenga (Miami) outpointed Alex Lubo (Palm Bay) over six rounds. Sammy Payne (Hollywood) outpointed over four rounds Brant Skyler (Lakeworth).
There was an amateur bout involving two Cayman Islands light-middles. Eric McField outpointed Bruce Coulson over four rounds.
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