Ben Whittaker says US fans understand him better than UK audiences ahead of US debut

“I think I get a lot of love there. I’ve been to New York countless times, and every time I walk down the street right there, I get a lot of love,” Whittaker told the Stomping Ground. “This is a place I’ve always wanted to fight. America, I think they get me a little bit more. They get the character. They get what I’m trying to do.”

Whittaker has become one of the sport’s most polarizing young fighters because of his flamboyant style and showmanship. While critics have accused him of focusing too much on entertainment, he believes his personality has helped attract new audiences to boxing.

“There’s a lot of kids. Some of the dads come up to me and say they don’t even like boxing, they just wanted to come watch you do your dance thing,” Whittaker said. “It shows I’m reaching a different audience and hopefully it can bring more kids into the sport.”

Whittaker enters the fight with momentum after stopping Liam Cameron in two rounds in April. Rivera represents a step up in experience, having previously challenged Badou Jack for a world title and lost a split decision in that fight.

The 28-year-old Whittaker (11-0-1, 8 KOs) sees Saturday’s appearance as an opportunity to expand his profile in a market he has long targeted. A victory over 35-year-old veteran Rivera would propel him to world title level while giving American fans their first live look at one of Britain’s most talked about fighters.