“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, in response to Whittaker’s win over Suarez.
“We see a guy who sits on his shots and really delivers, and now it’s three knockouts.”
He also praised Whittaker’s speed and overall athleticism, saying the 2020 Olympic silver medalist operates above this level of opponent.
“He’s got so much speed. So much speed. It was evident yesterday against Suarez. Like he’s just too quick.”
“I’m not just talking fast hands. I’m talking fast feet. His lateral body movement, his speed of everything, speed of thoughts, 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 awards 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 is only matched against weak opposition. They feel that the mismatch between Whittaker’s hype and his actual resume is becoming a major problem, 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 is still fighting guys who were 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, soon to be 29, Whittaker is not a prospect in the traditional sense. Most Olympic silver medalists with 50+ amateur fights are expected to fight for world titles by their 10th or 12th pro bout.
If Whittaker only gets one round of work against limited opposition, he’s not really 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 he waits for the old guard, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitri Bivol, to retire or vacate.
The fans’ grilling of Oladipo is a reaction to the forced narrative. If Whittaker is as elite as Oladipo claims, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be right there with David Morrell and Willy Hutchinson.
Taking an American debut on an undercard, as Hearn suggested, is just more treading water. Until he’s forced to fight a live dog that can actually take a punch and fire back, “The Surgeon” moniker is going to feel more like a marketing ploy than a professional reality.
